Key Concepts

• Name a decimal number.
  1. Name the number to the left of the decimal point.
  2. Write “and” for the decimal point.
  3. Name the “number” part to the right of the decimal point as if it were a whole number.
  4. Name the decimal place of the last digit.
• Write a decimal number from its name.
  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.
  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.
  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.
  4. Fill in zeros for place holders as needed.
• Convert a decimal number to a fraction or mixed number.
  1. Look at the number to the left of the decimal. If it is zero, the decimal converts to a proper fraction. If it is not zero, the decimal converts to a mixed number. Write the whole number.
  2. Determine the place value of the final digit.
  3. Write the fraction.
     numerator—the ‘numbers’ to the right of the decimal point
     denominator—the place value corresponding to the final digit
  4. Simplify the fraction, if possible.
• Order decimals.
  1. Check to see if both numbers have the same number of decimal places. If not, write zeros at the end of the one with fewer digits to make them match.
  2. Compare the numbers to the right of the decimal point as if they were whole numbers.
  3. Order the numbers using the appropriate inequality sign.
• Round a decimal.
  1. Locate the given place value and mark it with an arrow.
  2. Underline the digit to the right of the given place value.
  3. Is this digit greater than or equal to [latex]5[/latex]? Yes – add [latex]1[/latex] to the digit in the given place value. No – do not change the digit in the given place value
  4. Rewrite the number, removing all digits to the right of the given place value.
• Add or subtract decimals.
  1. Write the numbers vertically so the decimal points line up.
  2. Use zeros as place holders, as needed.
  3. Add or subtract the numbers as if they were whole numbers. Then place the decimal in the answer under the decimal points in the given numbers.
• Multiply decimal numbers.
  1. Determine the sign of the product.
  2. Write the numbers in vertical format, lining up the numbers on the right.
  3. Multiply the numbers as if they were whole numbers, temporarily ignoring the decimal points.
  4. Place the decimal point. The number of decimal places in the product is the sum of the number of decimal places in the factors. If needed, use zeros as placeholders.
  5. Write the product with the appropriate sign.
• Multiply a decimal by a power of [latex]10[/latex].
  1. Move the decimal point to the right the same number of places as the number of zeros in the power of [latex]10[/latex].
  2. Write zeros at the end of the number as placeholders if needed.
• Divide a decimal by a whole number.
  1. Write as long division, placing the decimal point in the quotient above the decimal point in the dividend.
  2. Divide as usual.
• Divide decimal numbers.
  1. Determine the sign of the quotient.
  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 to the right, writing zeros as needed.
  3. Divide. Place the decimal point in the quotient above the decimal point in the dividend.
  4. Write the quotient with the appropriate sign.
• Strategy for Applications
  1. Identify what you are asked to find.
  2. Write a phrase that gives the information to find it.
  3. Translate the phrase to an expression.
  4. Simplify the expression.
  5. Answer the question with a complete sentence.
• 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.