8 Introduction to decimals

At the end of this chapter you should be able to...

1 write a given number in expanded form − under the headings hundreds, tens, units, etc.
2 write a decimal number as a fraction and vice versa
3 add and subtract decimal numbers
4 multiply and divide decimal numbers by 10, 100, 1000, . . .
5 solve problems using operations on decimal numbers.

Did you know?

Theano, wife of Pythagoras, and two of her daughters were
members of Pythagoras’ mathematical school that included
women who supported each other.
She wrote a biography of her husband, and it is believed that
she and her daughters were responsible for attaching his
name to a theorem which was well known at least 2000 years
before his time.

You need to know...

✔ how to add and subtract whole numbers

✔ how to do short and long division
✔ how to multiply whole numbers.

Key words
decimal, fraction, triangle, quadrilateral, rectangle, regular pentagon

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9 Multiplication and division
of decimals

At the end of this chapter you should be able to...

1 multiply two decimal numbers
2 write a given fraction as a recurring decimal
3 write a number correct to a given number of decimal places
4 multiply and divide decimal numbers by whole numbers
5 divide by a decimal number
6 change a fractional number to a decimal number
7 order a set of numbers by size.

Did you know?

Srinivasa Ramanujan was known as a ‘mathematician’s
mathematician’. He came from India to England in 1914
to study mathematics with Godfrey H. Hardy. He
developed a notebook of over 6000 theorems. He died in
1920 at the age of 33.

You need to know...

✔ how to multiply fractions together

✔ place value in decimals
✔ how to multiply or divide by 10, 100, . . .
✔ how to divide by a whole number.

Key words
denominator, equilateral triangle, numerator, product, recurring decimal

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 8 Introduction to decimals

11 Find 8.2 − 1.92.

12 Add 4.2 and 0.28 and subtract 1.5 from the result.
13 Multiply 0.028 by 10 000.
14 I go into a shop with $19.44 and buy two articles, one costing $7.39 and the other
$9.53. How much do I have left?

Did you know?

Pythagoras was a member of a closely knit brotherhood. He was founder of the
famous Pythagorean school, which was devoted to the study of philosophy,
mathematics and natural science.
These Pythagoreans believed that natural numbers were the building blocks of
everything, and attached special significance to certain natural numbers.
Some examples are:
One − the number of reason
Two − the first female number, represented diversity of opinion
Three − the first male number, represented harmony
Four − suggested the squaring of accounts
Five − the union of the first male and female numbers, represented marriage.

In this chapter you have seen that...

✔ the decimal point divides the units from the tenths

✔ you can add and subtract decimals by writing them in columns, making sure
that the decimal points are in line

✔ you can multiply decimals by 10, 100, . . . by moving the digits to the left

✔ you can divide decimals by 10, 100, . . . by moving the digits to the right

✔ a decimal can be changed to a fraction by writing the numbers after the

point as tenths, hundredths, . . . and simplifying.

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8 Introduction to decimals

Mixed exercises

Exercise 8j

Select the letter that gives the correct answer.

1 0.02 as a fraction in its lowest terms is

1 1 1
A B C D none of these
500 50 5
91
2 as a decimal is
1000
A 0.0091 B 0.091 C 0.91 D 0.09
3 The sum of 4.27, 31 and 1.6 is
A 35.87 B 35.9 C 36.87 D 36.9
4 When 1.82 is subtracted from 4.2 the result is
A 2.16 B 2.28 C 2.38 D 6.02
5 0.0301 × 100 =
A 3 B 3.01 C 3.1 D 30.1
6 The distance around this quadrilateral in centimetres is
A 15.84 B 19.68 C 20.52 D 20.72
9.2 cm

3.2 cm 4 cm

4.32 cm

Exercise 8k

1 Give 0.3 as a fraction.

14
2 Express as a decimal.
100
3 Find the sum of 16.2, 4.12 and 7.
4 Find the value of 0.062 ÷ 100.
5 Find the total bill for three books costing $4.26, $5 and $1.32.
6 Subtract 14.8 from 16.3.
7 Give 0.008 as a fraction in its lowest terms.
8 Add 14.2, 6, 0.38 and 7.21 together.
9 Subtract 14.96 from 100.
10 Divide 8.6 by 1000.

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 8 Introduction to decimals

Exercise 8h

Find the value of:

a 3.2 ÷ 10 b 320 ÷ 10 000

a 3.2 ÷ 10 = 0.32

b The units become ten-thousandths, the tens become thousandths, and so on.

320 ÷ 10 000 = 0.0320 = 0.032

The final zero can be omitted because it doesn’t affect the value of anything.

Find the value of:

1 277.2 ÷ 100 4 1.4 ÷ 100 7 0.26 ÷ 10 10 13.4 ÷ 10
2 76.26 ÷ 10 5 27 ÷ 10 8 15.8 ÷ 1000 11 3.74 ÷ 1000
3 0.000 24 ÷ 10 6 6.8 ÷ 100 9 426 ÷ 10 000 12 0.92 ÷ 100

Mixed multiplication and division

Exercise 8i

Find:

1 1.6 ÷ 10 7 1.63 ÷ 100 13 0.32 × 10 19 0.38 ÷ 100

2 1.6 × 10 8 2 ÷ 1000 14 7.9 ÷ 100 20 3.8 × 100 000
3 0.078 × 100 9 140 ÷ 1000 15 0.000 78 × 100 21 0.024 ÷ 100
4 0.078 ÷ 100 10 7.8 × 10 000 16 2.4 ÷ 10 22 0.3 ÷ 100 000
5 14.2 × 100 11 24 ÷ 100 17 11.1 × 1000 23 0.0041 × 1000
6 0.068 × 100 12 0.063 × 1000 18 0.038 ÷ 100 24 0.1004 × 100
25 Share 42 m of string equally amongst 10 people.
26 Find the total cost of 100 articles at $1.52 each.
27 Evaluate 13.8 ÷ 100 and 13.8 × 100.
28 Multiply 1.6 by 100 and then divide the result by 1000.
29 Add 16.2 and 1.26 and divide the result by 100.
30 Take 9.6 from 13.4 and divide the result by 1000.

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8 Introduction to decimals

Multiplying by 100 means multiplying by 10 and then by 10 again, so the

digits move 2 places to the left.

tens units tenths hundredths thousandths

0 . 4 2 6 × 100
= 4 2 . 6

Notice that the digits move to the left while the point stays put but without headings
it looks as though the digits stay put and the point moves to the right.

When necessary we fill in an empty space with a zero.

units tenths hundreds tens units

4 . 2 × 100 = 4 2 0

Exercise 8g

Find the value of:

a 368 × 100 368 × 100 = 36 800
b 3.68 × 10 3.68 × 10 = 36.8
c 3.68 × 1000 3.68 × 1000 = 3680

Find the value of:

1 72 × 1000 4 46 × 10 7 0.0602 × 100 10 0.000 006 3 × 10

2 8.24 × 10 5 32.78 × 100 8 3.206 × 10 11 0.007 03 × 100
3 0.0024 × 100 6 0.043 × 10 000 9 72.81 × 1000 12 0.0374 × 10 000

Division by 10, 100, 1000, …

When we divide by 10, hundreds become tens and tens become units.

hundreds tens units tens units

6 4 0 ÷ 10 = 6 4

The digits move one place to the right and the number becomes smaller but it
looks as though the decimal point moves to the left so

2.72 ÷ 10 = 0.272

To divide by 100 the point is moved two places to the left.

To divide by 1000 the point is moved three places to the left.

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Puzzle

If the sum of the numbers in all the rows, columns and diagonals of a 9 8 4
square is the same the square is called a magic square.
2 7 12
For example in this magic square the total in every row, column and 10 6 5
diagonal is 21.
1 8.1
Fill in the blanks in this magic square if the total
is always 18.9.
5.4 6.3 7.2

10.8

2 6.3 5.5 2.8 This magic square contains two wrong numbers.
1.4 4.9 8.5
Find these wrong numbers and correct them.

7.0 4.2 3.5

3 15 10 30 60 Insert decimal points so that this is a magic square.

40 50 16 90

14 11 20 70

10 80 13 12

Multiplication by 10, 100, 1000, …

Consider 32 × 10 = 320. Writing 32 and 320 in headed columns gives

hundreds tens units

3 2
3 2 0

Multiplying by 10 has made the number of units become the number of tens,
and the number of tens has become the number of hundreds, so that all the
digits have moved one place to the left.
 
Consider 0.2 × 10. When multiplied by 10, tenths become units  1 × 10 = 1 , so
 10 
units tenths units
0 . 2 × 10 = 2

Again the digit has moved one place to the left.

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8 Introduction to decimals

21 A tape is to be placed round this rectangle. Find the length of tape

required.
7.1 cm

4.2 cm 4.2 cm

7.1 cm

22 A piece of webbing is 7.6 m long. If 2.3 m is cut off, how much is left?
23 Find the total bill for three articles costing $5, $6.52 and $13.25.
24 The bill for two books came to $28.48. One book cost $7.44. What was
the cost of the other one?
25 Add 2.32 and 0.68 and subtract the result from 4.
26 The diagram shows the measurements of the sides of a field. Find the
length of fencing required to enclose the field.

14.2 m

15 m

10.1 m

13.9 m

27 The bill for three meals was $30. The first meal cost $7.15 and the
second $13.60. What was the cost of the third?
28 The total distance round the sides of this quadrilateral is 19 cm. What
is the length of the fourth side?
4.2 cm

3.1 cm
5.8 cm

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 8 Introduction to decimals

Find:
13 3.26 − 0.2 22 0.000 32 − 0.000 123 31 0.73 − 0.000 06
14 3.2 − 0.26 23 0.0073 − 0.0006 32 0.73 − 0.6
15 14.23 − 11.1 24 0.0073 − 0.006 33 Take 19.2 from 76.8.
16 6.8 − 4.14 25 0.006 − 0.000 73 34 Subtract 1.9 from 10.2.
17 11 − 8.6 26 0.06 − 0.000 73 35 From 0.168 subtract 0.019.
18 7.98 − 0.098 27 6 − 0.73 36 Evaluate 7.62 − 0.81.
19 7.098 − 0.98 28 6 − 0.073
11 is the same as 11.0.
20 3.2 − 0.428 29 7.3 − 0.06
21 11.2 − 0.0026 30 730 − 0.6

Exercise 8f

Find the value of:

1 8.62 + 1.7 6 100 + 0.28 11 38.2 + 1.68 16 0.02 − 0.013

2 8.62 − 1.7 7 100 − 0.28 12 38.2 − 1.68 17 0.062 + 0.32
3 3.8 − 0.82 8 0.26 + 0.026 13 0.84 + 2 + 200 18 6.83 − 0.19
4 0.08 + 0.32 + 6.2 9 0.26 − 0.026 14 16 + 1.6 + 0.16 19 17.2 + 20 + 1.62
5 5 − 0.6 10 78.42 − 0.8 15 1.4 − 0.81 20 9.2 + 13.21 − 14.6

The distance all round this triangle is 6.5 cm.

What is the length of the third side?

2.3 cm
1.6 cm

As the distance round the three sides is 6.5 cm, you can find the third side by adding
the lengths of the two sides that you know, then take the result from 6.5 cm.

1.6 cm + 2.3 cm = 3.9 cm 1.6

+ 2.3
3.9
The length of the third side is 6.5 cm − 3.9 cm = 2.6 cm 6.5
− 3.9
2.6

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8 Introduction to decimals

4 Try to write down twelve numbers written as three rows with four numbers in each row
so that the rules given in part 1 apply and the lowest possible score is 0. If you think
you’ve succeeded, try it on a friend.
5 Using the same list of decimals pair them off so that the difference between the pairs lies
between 0 and 1.

Subtraction of decimals

Exercise 8e

Subtraction also may be done by writing the numbers in columns, making sure
that the decimal points are in line.

Find 24.2 − 13.7 24.2

− 13.7
24.2 − 13.7 = 10.5 10.5

Find:
1 6.8 − 4.3 4 0.62 − 0.21 7 3.273 − 1.032 10 7.32 − 0.67
2 9.6 − 1.8 5 0.0342 − 0.0021 8 0.262 − 0.071 11 54.07 − 12.62
3 32.7 − 14.2 6 17.23 − 0.36 9 102.6 − 31.2 12 7.063 − 0.124

It may be necessary to add zeros so that there is the same number of digits after the
point in both cases.

Find 4.623 − 1.7 Fill ‘empty’ places with zeros. 4.623

− 1.700
4.623 − 1.7 = 2.923 2.923

Find 4.63 − 1.0342 Fill ‘empty’ places with zeros. 4.6300

− 1.0342
4.63 − 1.0342 = 3.5958 3.5958

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 8 Introduction to decimals

Exercise 8d

Find 3 + 1.6 + 0.032 + 2.0066 3

Write the numbers in a column, keeping the decimal points in line. 1.6
0.032
3 + 1.6 + 0.032 + 2.0066 = 6.6386 + 2.0066
6.6386

Find:

1 7.2 + 3.6 11 0.0043 + 0.263 21 Add 0.68 to 1.7.

2 6.21 + 1.34 12 0.002 + 2.1 22 Find the sum of
3 0.013 + 0.026 13 0.000 52 + 0.001 24 3.28 and 14.021.
4 3.87 + 0.11 14 0.068 + 0.003 + 0.06 23 To 7.9 add 4 and 3.72.
5 4.6 + 1.23 15 4.62 + 0.078 24 Evaluate 7.9 + 0.62 + 5.
6 13.14 + 0.9 16 0.32 + 0.032 + 0.0032 25 Find the sum of 8.6,
7 4 + 3.6 17 4.6 + 0.0005 5 and 3.21.

8 9.24 + 3 18 16.8 + 3.9 Remember that 4 is the

9 3.6 + 0.08 19 1.62 + 2.078 + 3.1 same as 4.0.

10 7.2 + 0.32 + 1.6 20 7.34 + 6 + 14.034

Puzzle

4.33 0.59 2.36 5.608 3.182 0.57 0.649

6.25 1.89 5.81 3.218 1.14 2.98 3.902
3.72 0.9 3.7 5.989 6.27 6.804 0.098
0.13 5.91 3.241 0.68 1.291 2.99 4.2
1 Pair off as many numbers as possible so that all your number pairs add up to a number
between 5 and 7. When your time is up your score is the sum of all the remaining
numbers. The lower the score the better. (You will probably find it helpful to copy the list
and cross out each pair of numbers that satisfies the condition.)
You have a time limit of two minutes for this exercise.
2 Repeat the exercise to try to reduce your score.
3 What is the lowest score possible?

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8 Introduction to decimals

Write as fractions in their lowest terms:

25 0.25 28 0.0305 31 0.35 34 0.125

26 0.072 29 0.15 32 0.0016 35 0.48
27 0.38 30 0.025 33 0.044 36 0.625

Changing fractions to decimals

Exercise 8c

Write the following numbers as decimals:

3 3
100
units tenths hundredths
3 3 = 3 . 0 3 = 3.03
100

7 2 4 6
1 4 7 10 10000
100 1000 100
9 4
2 5 8 78 11 4 5
10 10 10 1000
29
3 11 6 2 6 9 7 8 12
10 100 100 10000

Addition of decimals
To add decimals you can write them in columns. It is important to keep the
decimal points in line.

tens units tenths

4.2 + 13.1 = 17.3 4 . 2 2 tenths + 1 tenth = 3 tenths

+ 1 3 . 1
1 7 . 3
5.3 + 6.8 = 12.1 5 . 3 3 tenths + 8 tenths = 11 tenths
+ 6 . 8 = 1 unit and 1 tenth
1 2 . 1
1 1
The headings above the digits need not be written as long as we know what they
are and the decimal points are in line (including the invisible point after a whole
number, e.g. 4 = 4.0).

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 8 Introduction to decimals

Changing decimals to fractions

Exercise 8b

Write the following decimals as fractions in their lowest terms (using mixed numbers
where necessary):

units tenths
6
0.6 = 0 . 6 = Now cancel.
10
3
=
5
tens units tenths hundredths

12.04 = 1 2 . 0 4 = 12 4 Now cancel the fraction.

100

= 12 1
25

1 0.2 4 0.0007 7 0.7 10 1.7

2 0.06 5 0.001 8 2.01 11 15.5
3 1.3 6 6.4 9 1.8 12 8.06
You can go straight from the decimal to one fraction.

0.302

units tenths hundredths thousandths

0.302 = 0 . 3 0 2 = 3 + 2
10 1000

Now write these with a common denominator. = 300 + 2

1000 1000

Now cancel. = 302

1000

= 151
500
You can miss out the first two steps and go straight to one fraction.

Write as fractions:

13 0.73 16 0.0029 19 0.071 22 0.63

14 0.081 17 0.000 67 20 0.3001 23 0.031
15 0.207 18 0.17 21 0.0207 24 0.47

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8 Introduction to decimals

The meaning of decimals

Consider the number 426. The position of the digits indicates what each digit represents.
We can write:

hundreds tens units

4 2 6
1 1
Each quantity in the heading is of the quantity to its left: ten is of a hundred,
10 10
1
a unit is of ten. Moving further to the right we can have further headings: tenths of a
10
1
unit, hundredths of a unit and so on (a hundredth of a unit is of a tenth of a unit).
10
For example:

tens units tenths hundredths

1 6 . 0 2

To mark where the units come we put a point after the units position. 16.02 is 1 ten,
6 units and 2 hundredths or 16 2 .
100

units tenths hundredths thousandths

0 . 0 0 4
4
0.004 is 4 thousandths or . In this case, 0 is written before the point to help
1000
make it clear where the point comes.

Exercise 8a

Write the following numbers in headed columns:

tens units tenths hundredths

34.62 = 3 4 . 6 2

units tenths hundredths thousandths ten-thousandths

0.0207 = 0 . 0 2 0 7

1 2.6 4 0.09 7 1.046 10 0.604

2 32.1 5 101.3 8 12.001 11 15.045
3 6.03 6 0.000 07 9 6.34 12 0.0092

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