Page 95 - Start Up Mathematics_5

6

Understanding Decimals

We know that a fraction is a part of a whole number. When we divide one whole into ten
parts, each part is 1 or one-tenth. Thus, 1 one = 10 tenths.
10

1 = 0.1
10
1
We can write as 0.1 in which the point is called the decimal point. We read it as zero
10
point one.

4 7
Similarly, = 0.4, = 0.7, and so on.
10 10
A decimal number can be written with a whole
number to show a complete whole and a fractional

part. For example, to express 4 complete wholes 5
5 4 and = 4.5
and fractional part, we write 4.5 which is read 10
10
as four point five.
1 1 1 1
If we divide each further into 10 equal parts, each part would be × = or
10 10 10 100
one-hundredth. Thus, 1 tenth = 10 hundredths.

1 of 1 = 1 = 0.01
10 10 100
1
We can write as 0.01 in decimal form. We read it as zero point zero one.
100
25 9
Similarly, = 0.25, = 0.09, and so on.
100 100
1 1 1 1
Each further divided into 10 more equal parts will be × = or
100 10 100 1000
one-thousandth. Thus, 1 hundredth = 10 thousandths.

1 of 1 = 1 = 0.001
10 100 1000

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