LESSON 1

WHOLE NUMBERS AND

DECIMALS
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lesson, you should be
able to:
◦ Understand whole numbers.
◦ Round whole numbers.
◦ Add, subtract, multiply and divide whole
numbers.
◦ Read and write decimal numbers.
◦ Round decimal numbers.
◦ Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimal
numbers.
Understand whole numbers
The whole numbers are the counting
numbers inclusive of 0. For example; 0,
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 100, 1000
The position of a digit in a number
written in standard form determines the
actual value the digit represents. The table
below shows the place value for various
positions.
continuation

Place (underlined) Name of position

1 000 Ones (units)

1 000 Tens

1 000 Hundreds

1 000 Thousands

1 000 000 Ten thousands

1 000 000 Hundred thousands

1 000 000 Millions

 Rounding whole numbers.

Rule of rounding
Identify the position to be rounded. Draw
a line under that place.
If the digit to the right of the number to be
rounded is 5 or more, increase by 1 (round
up); if 4 or less, do not change.
Change all digits to the right of the
number to be rounded to zero
 Activities

Round 324 to the nearest hundred.

Answer: 300
Round 5, 897 to the nearest thousand.
Answer: 6,000
Round 558,024,521 to the nearest ten
thousand.
Answer: 558, 020,000
Addition, subtraction, multiplication
and division of whole numbers
• Addition of whole numbers
To add whole numbers, each unit should
be justified to the right.
Example
In one week, Maryam earned the
following commissions: Monday, RM
124; Tuesday, RM 88; Wednesday, RM
62; Thursday, RM 137; Friday, RM 195.
Find her total commissions for the week.
Contd…
Solution:
Her total commissions for the week are:
RM 124 + RM 88 + RM 62 + RM 137 +
RM 195 = RM 606
Subtracting whole numbers
To find the difference between two
different numbers requires subtracting a
number called subtrahend from another
number called minuend.
 Contd..
Example
In December 2008, the landlord of an apartment
received RM 720 from each of eight tenants.
After paying RM 2,180 in quit rent, how much
money left with landlord?
Solution:
Total money received by the landlord:
RM 720 + RM 720 + RM 720 + RM 720 + RM
720 + RM 720 + RM 720 + RM 720 = RM 5,760
Contd…
Alternatively,
RM720 x 8 = RM 5, 760
Total money that the landlord has left is:
RM 5,760 – RM 2,180 = RM 3,580
• Multiplication of whole numbers
Multiplication is considered as a short cut
method to add a series of similar values.
The output is called product.
3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 15 or 3 x 5 = 15
Example
A spa business owner buys three massage
beds at RM 1,540 each, five face lifting
machine at RM 695 each, and eight
magnifying lamps at RM 38 each. Find the
total cost of the equipment purchased.
Solution:
Total cost of the equipment purchased is:
(RM 1,540 x 3) + (RM 695 x 5) + (RM 38 x
8) = RM 8,399
• Division of whole numbers
• Dividing whole numbers will determine how many
times one number or a quantity is contained in
another. If the divisor does not divide evenly into
the dividend, there will be remainder.
• Example
• At a recent garage sale, the total sales were RM 584.
If the said amount of money is divided equally
among four people, Thava, Rosnah, Maria, and
Husin, how much each of them received?
• Solution:
RM 584
 RM 146
4
 Decimal Numbers
A decimal number is any number written with a
decimal point. Decimal points separate the whole
units on the left from the decimal units on the
right.
Whole unit Decimal units
456. 257
Any number written to the right of the decimal
point is called a decimal fraction.
The place value of the digits to the right of the
decimal point is shown below:
Place (underlined) Name of position

.1 Tenths

. 01 Hundredths

. 001 Thousandths

. 0001 Ten thousandths

. 00001 Hundred thousandths

. 000001 Millionths

. 0000001 Ten millionths

 Addition of decimals

The decimal system is positional, the

value of a digit depends on its position as
well as on its numeric value.
To add decimals, you must align the
decimal points at the same position.
Add 9.38, 4.6, 15.927, and 3.087
Solution: 9.38 + 4.6 + 15.927 + 3.087 =
32.994
Subtraction of decimals

Subtraction requires that the decimal

points be aligned, similar to addition.
Subtract 25.98 from 33.285.
Solution: 33.285 - 25.98 = 6.305
 Multiplication of decimals

Decimals are multiplied as if they were

whole numbers. (It is not necessary to line
up the decimal points). Once a multiplied
product has been determined, the number
of decimal places equals the sum of the
decimal places in the factors.
Example
Multiply 6.34 with 4.62.
6.34 x 4.62 = 29.2908
 Division of decimals

When the divisor is a whole number,

place the decimal point in the quotient
(the answer) directly above the decimal
point in the dividend (the number being
divided). Then divide as usual.
Example
35.52/ 32 = 1. 101
When the divisor contains a decimal
fraction, convert the divisor to a whole
number.