Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you will be able to:
- Name and write decimals
- Round decimals
- Add and subtract decimals
- Multiply and divide decimals
- Convert decimals, fractions, and percents
A more thorough introduction to the topics covered in this section can be found in the Prealgebra chapter, Decimals.
Name and Write Decimals
Decimals are another way of writing fractions whose denominators are powers of 10.
Notice that “ten thousand” is a number larger than one, but “one ten-thousandth” is a number smaller than one. The “th” at the end of the name tells you that the number is smaller than one.
When we name a whole number, the name corresponds to the place value based on the powers of ten. We read 10,000 as “ten thousand” and 10,000,000 as “ten million.” Likewise, the names of the decimal places correspond to their fraction values. Figure 1.14 shows the names of the place values to the left and right of the decimal point.
Example 1.91
How to Name Decimals
Name the decimal 4.3.
Name the decimal:
Name the decimal:
We summarize the steps needed to name a decimal below.
How To
Name a Decimal.
- Step 1. Name the number to the left of the decimal point.
- Step 2. Write “and” for the decimal point.
- Step 3. Name the “number” part to the right of the decimal point as if it were a whole number.
- Step 4. Name the decimal place of the last digit.
Example 1.92
Name the decimal:
Name the decimal:
Name the decimal:
When we write a check we write both the numerals and the name of the number. Let’s see how to write the decimal from the name.
Example 1.93
How to Write Decimals
Write “fourteen and twenty-four thousandths” as a decimal.
Write as a decimal: thirteen and sixty-eight thousandths.
Write as a decimal: five and ninety-four thousandths.
We summarize the steps to writing a decimal.
How To
Write a decimal.
- Step 1. Look for the word “and”—it locates the decimal point.
- Place a decimal point under the word “and.” Translate the words before “and” into the whole number and place it to the left of the decimal point.
- If there is no “and,” write a “0” with a decimal point to its right.
- Step 2. Mark the number of decimal places needed to the right of the decimal point by noting the place value indicated by the last word.
- Step 3. Translate the words after “and” into the number to the right of the decimal point. Write the number in the spaces—putting the final digit in the last place.
- Step 4. Fill in zeros for place holders as needed.
Round Decimals
Rounding decimals is very much like rounding whole numbers. We will round decimals with a method based on the one we used to round whole numbers.
Example 1.94
How to Round Decimals
Round 18.379 to the nearest hundredth.
Round to the nearest hundredth:
Round to the nearest hundredth:
We summarize the steps for rounding a decimal here.
How To
Round Decimals.
- Step 1. Locate the given place value and mark it with an arrow.
- Step 2. Underline the digit to the right of the place value.
- Step 3. Is this digit greater than or equal to 5?
- Yes—add 1 to the digit in the given place value.
- No—do not change the digit in the given place value.
- Step 4. Rewrite the number, deleting all digits to the right of the rounding digit.
Example 1.95
Round 18.379 to the nearest ⓐ tenth ⓑ whole number.
Round to the nearest ⓐ hundredth ⓑ tenth ⓒ whole number.
Round to the nearest ⓐ thousandth ⓑ hundredth ⓒ tenth.
Add and Subtract Decimals
To add or subtract decimals, we line up the decimal points. By lining up the decimal points this way, we can add or subtract the corresponding place values. We then add or subtract the numbers as if they were whole numbers and then place the decimal point in the sum.
How To
Add or Subtract Decimals.
- Step 1. Write the numbers so the decimal points line up vertically.
- Step 2. Use zeros as place holders, as needed.
- Step 3. Add or subtract the numbers as if they were whole numbers. Then place the decimal point in the answer under the decimal points in the given numbers.
Example 1.96
Add:
Add:
Add:
Example 1.97
Subtract:
Subtract:
Subtract:
Multiply and Divide Decimals
Multiplying decimals is very much like multiplying whole numbers—we just have to determine where to place the decimal point. The procedure for multiplying decimals will make sense if we first convert them to fractions and then multiply.
So let’s see what we would get as the product of decimals by converting them to fractions first. We will do two examples side-by-side. Look for a pattern!
Convert to fractions. | |
Multiply. | |
Convert to decimals. |
Notice, in the first example, we multiplied two numbers that each had one digit after the decimal point and the product had two decimal places. In the second example, we multiplied a number with one decimal place by a number with two decimal places and the product had three decimal places.
We multiply the numbers just as we do whole numbers, temporarily ignoring the decimal point. We then count the number of decimal points in the factors and that sum tells us the number of decimal places in the product.
The rules for multiplying positive and negative numbers apply to decimals, too, of course!
When multiplying two numbers,
- if their signs are the same the product is positive.
- if their signs are different the product is negative.
When we multiply signed decimals, first we determine the sign of the product and then multiply as if the numbers were both positive. Finally, we write the product with the appropriate sign.
How To
Multiply Decimals.
- Step 1. Determine the sign of the product.
- Step 2. Write in vertical format, lining up the numbers on the right. Multiply the numbers as if they were whole numbers, temporarily ignoring the decimal points.
- Step 3. Place the decimal point. The number of decimal places in the product is the sum of the number of decimal places in the factors.
- Step 4. Write the product with the appropriate sign.
Example 1.98
Multiply:
Multiply:
Multiply:
In many of your other classes, especially in the sciences, you will multiply decimals by powers of 10 (10, 100, 1000, etc.). If you multiply a few products on paper, you may notice a pattern relating the number of zeros in the power of 10 to number of decimal places we move the decimal point to the right to get the product.
How To
Multiply a Decimal by a Power of Ten.
- Step 1. Move the decimal point to the right the same number of places as the number of zeros in the power of 10.
- Step 2. Add zeros at the end of the number as needed.
Example 1.99
Multiply 5.63 ⓐ by 10 ⓑ by 100 ⓒ by 1,000.
Multiply 2.58 ⓐ by 10 ⓑ by 100 ⓒ by 1,000.
Multiply 14.2 ⓐ by 10 ⓑ by 100 ⓒ by 1,000.
Just as with multiplication, division of decimals is very much like dividing whole numbers. We just have to figure out where the decimal point must be placed.
To divide decimals, determine what power of 10 to multiply the denominator by to make it a whole number. Then multiply the numerator by that same power of Because of the equivalent fractions property, we haven’t changed the value of the fraction! The effect is to move the decimal points in the numerator and denominator the same number of places to the right. For example:
We use the rules for dividing positive and negative numbers with decimals, too. When dividing signed decimals, first determine the sign of the quotient and then divide as if the numbers were both positive. Finally, write the quotient with the appropriate sign.
We review the notation and vocabulary for division:
We’ll write the steps to take when dividing decimals, for easy reference.
How To
Divide Decimals.
- Step 1. Determine the sign of the quotient.
- Step 2. Make the divisor a whole number by “moving” the decimal point all the way to the right. “Move” the decimal point in the dividend the same number of places—adding zeros as needed.
- Step 3. Divide. Place the decimal point in the quotient above the decimal point in the dividend.
- Step 4. Write the quotient with the appropriate sign.
Example 1.100
Divide:
Divide:
Divide:
A common application of dividing whole numbers into decimals is when we want to find the price of one item that is sold as part of a multi-pack. For example, suppose a case of 24 water bottles costs $3.99. To find the price of one water bottle, we would divide $3.99 by 24. We show this division in Example 1.101. In calculations with money, we will round the answer to the nearest cent (hundredth).
Example 1.101
Divide:
Divide:
Divide:
Convert Decimals, Fractions, and Percents
We convert decimals into fractions by identifying the place value of the last (farthest right) digit. In the decimal 0.03 the 3 is in the hundredths place, so 100 is the denominator of the fraction equivalent to 0.03.
Notice, when the number to the left of the decimal is zero, we get a fraction whose numerator is less than its denominator. Fractions like this are called proper fractions.
The steps to take to convert a decimal to a fraction are summarized in the procedure box.
How To
Convert a Decimal to a Proper Fraction.
- Step 1. Determine the place value of the final digit.
- Step 2. Write the fraction.
- numerator—the “numbers” to the right of the decimal point
- denominator—the place value corresponding to the final digit
Example 1.102
Write 0.374 as a fraction.
Write 0.234 as a fraction.
Write 0.024 as a fraction.
We’ve learned to convert decimals to fractions. Now we will do the reverse—convert fractions to decimals. Remember that the fraction bar means division. So can be written or This leads to the following method for converting a fraction to a decimal.
How To
Convert a Fraction to a Decimal.
To convert a fraction to a decimal, divide the numerator of the fraction by the denominator of the fraction.
Example 1.103
Write as a decimal.
Write as a decimal.
Write as a decimal.
When we divide, we will not always get a zero remainder. Sometimes the quotient ends up with a decimal that repeats. A repeating decimal is a decimal in which the last digit or group of digits repeats endlessly. A bar is placed over the repeating block of digits to indicate it repeats.
Repeating Decimal
A repeating decimal is a decimal in which the last digit or group of digits repeats endlessly.
A bar is placed over the repeating block of digits to indicate it repeats.
Example 1.104
Write as a decimal.
Write as a decimal.
Write as a decimal.
Sometimes we may have to simplify expressions with fractions and decimals together.
Example 1.105
Simplify:
Simplify:
Simplify:
A percent is a ratio whose denominator is 100. Percent means per hundred. We use the percent symbol, %, to show percent.
Percent
A percent is a ratio whose denominator is 100.
Since a percent is a ratio, it can easily be expressed as a fraction. Percent means per 100, so the denominator of the fraction is 100. We then change the fraction to a decimal by dividing the numerator by the denominator.
Write as a ratio with denominator 100. | |||
Change the fraction to a decimal by dividing the numerator by the denominator. |
Do you see the pattern? To convert a percent number to a decimal number, we move the decimal point two places to the left.
Example 1.106
Convert each percent to a decimal: ⓐ 62% ⓑ 135% ⓒ 35.7%.
Convert each percent to a decimal: ⓐ ⓑ ⓒ 3.9%.
Convert each percent to a decimal: ⓐ 3% ⓑ 91% ⓒ 8.3%.
Converting a decimal to a percent makes sense if we remember the definition of percent and keep place value in mind.
To convert a decimal to a percent, remember that percent means per hundred. If we change the decimal to a fraction whose denominator is 100, it is easy to change that fraction to a percent.
Write as a fraction. | |||
The denominator is 100. | |||
Write the ratio as a percent. |
Recognize the pattern? To convert a decimal to a percent, we move the decimal point two places to the right and then add the percent sign.
Example 1.107
Convert each decimal to a percent: ⓐ 0.51 ⓑ 1.25 ⓒ 0.093.
Convert each decimal to a percent: ⓐ 0.17 ⓑ 1.75 ⓒ 0.0825.
Convert each decimal to a percent: ⓐ 0.41 ⓑ 2.25 ⓒ 0.0925.
Section 1.7 Exercises
Practice Makes Perfect
Name and Write Decimals
In the following exercises, write as a decimal.
Sixty-one and seventy-four hundredths
Six tenths
Thirty-five thousandths
Negative fifty-nine and two ten-thousandths
In the following exercises, name each decimal.
14.02
2.64
0.479
Round Decimals
In the following exercises, round each number to the nearest tenth.
0.49
4.63
In the following exercises, round each number to the nearest hundredth.
0.761
0.697
7.096
In the following exercises, round each number to the nearest ⓐ hundredth ⓑ tenth ⓒ whole number.
1.6381
Add and Subtract Decimals
In the following exercises, add or subtract.
Multiply and Divide Decimals
In the following exercises, multiply.
In the following exercises, divide.
Convert Decimals, Fractions and Percents
In the following exercises, write each decimal as a fraction.
0.19
0.78
1.35
0.464
0.085
In the following exercises, convert each fraction to a decimal.
In the following exercises, convert each percent to a decimal.
2%
71%
250%
39.3%
6.4%
In the following exercises, convert each decimal to a percent.
0.03
1.56
4
0.0625
2.317
Everyday Math
Salary Increase Danny got a raise and now makes $58,965.95 a year. Round this number to the nearest
ⓐ dollar
ⓑ thousand dollars
ⓒ ten thousand dollars.
New Car Purchase Selena’s new car cost $23,795.95. Round this number to the nearest
ⓐ dollar
ⓑ thousand dollars
ⓒ ten thousand dollars.
Sales Tax Hyo Jin lives in San Diego. She bought a refrigerator for $1,624.99 and when the clerk calculated the sales tax it came out to exactly $142.186625. Round the sales tax to the nearest
ⓐ penny and
ⓑ dollar.
Sales Tax Jennifer bought a $1,038.99 dining room set for her home in Cincinnati. She calculated the sales tax to be exactly $67.53435. Round the sales tax to the nearest
ⓐ penny and
ⓑ dollar.
Paycheck Annie has two jobs. She gets paid $14.04 per hour for tutoring at City College and $8.75 per hour at a coffee shop. Last week she tutored for 8 hours and worked at the coffee shop for 15 hours.
ⓐ How much did she earn?
ⓑ If she had worked all 23 hours as a tutor instead of working both jobs, how much more would she have earned?
Paycheck Jake has two jobs. He gets paid $7.95 per hour at the college cafeteria and $20.25 at the art gallery. Last week he worked 12 hours at the cafeteria and 5 hours at the art gallery.
ⓐ How much did he earn?
ⓑ If he had worked all 17 hours at the art gallery instead of working both jobs, how much more would he have earned?
Writing Exercises
Explain how you write “three and nine hundredths” as a decimal.
Without solving the problem “44 is 80% of what number” think about what the solution might be. Should it be a number that is greater than 44 or less than 44? Explain your reasoning.
When the Szetos sold their home, the selling price was 500% of what they had paid for the house 30 years ago. Explain what 500% means in this context.
Self Check
ⓐ After completing the exercises, use this checklist to evaluate your mastery of the objectives of this section.
ⓑ What does this checklist tell you about your mastery of this section? What steps will you take to improve?