Decimal notation extends whole-number place value to the right of the decimal point: in numbers through thousandths, each position represents one-tenth the value of the position to its left, so digits identify tenths, hundredths, and thousandths as well as their values (for example, 4 in 2.047 represents four hundredths). This includes interpreting zeros as placeholders and recognizing equivalent forms such as 0.5 and 0.50; places beyond thousandths and more advanced generalizations are not included.
To identify a decimal place value, start at the decimal point and count to the right:
Each place is worth one-tenth as much as the place before it.
Example: In the number , what place is the digit in, and what is its value?
Look at the digits to the right of the decimal point:
Therefore, the digit is in the hundredths place.
A in the hundredths place has a value of four hundredths:
So, in , the digit is in the hundredths place, and its value is .
The zero in the tenths place is a placeholder. It shows that there are no tenths, so the stays in the hundredths place.
Click a topic below to practice the foundational skills you'll need, learn the steps, or master this skill
Earned ?