Skill: Write decimals to thousandths

To write a decimal to the thousandths place, use the place-value positions:

$$\text{ones} \;.\; \text{tenths}\;\text{hundredths}\;\text{thousandths}$$

The digits after the decimal point mean:

• tenths: $\frac{1}{10}$
• hundredths: $\frac{1}{100}$
• thousandths: $\frac{1}{1{,}000}$

Example

Write 3 and 47 thousandths as a decimal.

1. The whole-number part is $3$, so write $3$ before the decimal point.

2. The decimal part is $(47)$ thousandths, or

$$\frac{47}{1{,}000}.$$

3. Since thousandths use three digits after the decimal, write $(47)$ as $(047)$. The zero is a placeholder for the tenths place.

4. Put the digits in their place-value positions:

$$3.047$$

So, 3 and 47 thousandths is

$$\boxed{3.047}.$$

The zero matters: $(3.047)$ has $0$ tenths, $4$ hundredths, and $7$ thousandths.