Decimal meaning and notation

Connect decimal place values and sizes with fractions using units such as 0.1 and 0.01.

Meaning

The first place after the decimal point counts units, and the second counts units. Appending zeros on the right does not change the amount.

Example

0.35 is plus or Since it is greater than 0.35.Each tenth contains ten hundredths, so four tenths equal forty hundredths. Appending zero recounts the same amount in smaller units; it does not increase it.Having more decimal places does not make a number larger.

Practice for this concept

Scope and references

Topics

Decimal points, decimal place value, comparing decimals, converting fractions and decimals

Learning goal

Connect decimal place values and sizes with fractions using units such as 0.1 and 0.01.

Helpful background

Explore base-ten place value and units made by dividing a whole into 10 or 100 equal parts.

Reading decimal units

Does not include number lines or conversion between fractions and decimals in both directions.

Comparing decimals

Does not separately assess every decimal range or reasons for comparison.

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