Math A -Fundamentals of Mathematics

MODULE V
DECIMAL

Decimal – can be defined as a number whose whole number part and the fractional part is separated by a
decimal point. The dot in a decimal number is called decimal point. The digits following the decimal point
show a value smaller than one.

Place Value Name

7, 6 5 4, 3 2 1 . 1 2 3 4 5 6

one millionth
ten hundred thousandths
hundred ten thousandths
thousand thousandths
ten thousand hundredths
hundred thousand tenths
million (and) separatrix

Reading and Writing Decimals

Numerals are read from left to right just like whole numbers.

To read a decimal, follow the steps.

1. Read the whole number.
2. The separatrix (the decimal point) is read as “and”.
3. The number after the decimal point is read as a whole number and the place value of the last digit is
read at the end.

Examples:
1. 18.25 is read as eighteen and twenty five hundredths.
2. 924.03964 is read as nine hundred twenty-four and three thousand nine hundred sixty-four hundred
thousandths.

To write decimals, write the whole number first followed by the decimal point and place the digit or digits in its
corresponding position.

Examples:
1. Four hundred three and seventy-five thousandths - 403.075
2. Sixty-eight and one thousand five hundred sixty-four millionths - 68.001564

Numbers in Millions in Decimal Form

8,700,000 = 8.7 millions

24,900,000 = 24.9 millions
Rounding Decimals

In rounding off decimals to the desired place value, follow the rules in rounding off whole numbers.

Examples:
1. 4.326 = 4.33
2. 36.2432 = 36.243
3. 7.65 = 7.6
4. 7.35 = 7.4

Scientific Notation

Numbers which are very large can be expressed as decimals and powers of ten. The way numbers are expressed
in this manner is called scientific notation. A numeral is in a scientific notation if it is expressed as a product of a number
between 1 and 10 and a power of 10.

Examples:
1. 52,000,000 = 5.2 x 107
2. 634,000,000,000 = 6.34 x 1011
3. 0.00000082 = 8.2 x 10-7
4. 0.000000000363 = 3.63 x 10-10

Addition and Subtraction of Decimals

To add or subtract decimals, arrange the numbers so that decimal points are in the same column and add or
subtract in the same manner that whole numbers are added or subtracted.
Examples:
1. 3.25 + 44.098 + 0.32

3.25
44.098
0.32
47.668

2. 804.263 - 94.3265

804.2630
94.3265
709.9365

Multiplication of Decimals

To multiply decimals, multiply the numbers as if they are whole numbers and determine the decimal point of the
product by counting the number of digits to the right of the decimal point in the multiplicand and the multiplier. These
numbers of digits would represent the numbers counted from the right of the product where the decimal point is to be
placed.

Examples:
1. 32.4 2. 2.79
× 1.3 × 2.8
972 2232
324 558
42.12 7.812
Division of Decimals

To divide decimals, follow the process n dividing whole numbers, only, the divisor which is a decimal should
changed to whole number.

Examples:

1. Dividing by a divisor which is a whole number.

56.4 ÷ 4
14.1
4 56.4
4
16
16
4
4
0

2. Dividing by a decimal divisor

149.868 ÷ 4.6
32.58
46 1498.68
138
118
92
266
230
368
368
0