15 Minute Math

This presentation will review different math skills that will help you
with every day math problems.

Each lesson takes approximately 15 minutes to do. Almost anyone

can find an extra 15 minutes out of his or her day, whether it be
during breakfast or right before bed. In just under 3 weeks, you
can review all the TABE Computation Math sections.

Look for the Professor. He has special hints to help make

working the math problems faster and easier.
 15 Minute Math

 Decimals  Integers
o Lesson 1 – What Are Decimals? o Lesson 12 – Addition & Subtraction
o Lesson 2 – Addition & Subtraction o Lesson 13 – Multiplication, Division, &
o Lesson 3 – Multiplication Absolute Value
o Lesson 4 – Division  Algebra
 Fractions o Lesson 14 – Adding & Subtracting
o Lesson 5 – What Are Fractions? Variables
o Lesson 6 - Addition & Subtraction (no o Lesson 15 – Multiplying & Dividing
whole #s) Variables
o Lesson 7 – Addition & Subtraction o Lesson 16 – Square Roots
(with whole #s)  Order of Operations
o Lesson 8 – Multiplication & Division o Lesson 17 – Please Excuse My Dear
 Percentages Aunt Sally
o Lesson 9 – Converting Decimals to o Lesson 18 – Order of Operations with
Fractions to Percents Variables
o Lesson 10 – Calculating the Part  Practice Tests
o Lesson 11 – Cross-Multiplication o Lesson 19 – Practice Test #1
Method o Lesson 20 – Practice Test #2
15 Minute Math – Decimals
Lesson # 1 – What Are Decimals?

This lesson explains how to

read and work with decimals.
Problem: You work in a medical lab and you need to tell your coworker how
much medicine you need.

“I need two tenths of a gram of insulin.”

Saying numbers correctly can ensure everyone is talking about the same
thing.
15 Minute Math – Decimals
Lesson # 1 – What Are Decimals?

 Decimals are numbers that are less than 1 but greater than 0
0 < 0.1 < 1 (0.1 is between 0 and 1, so it is a decimal)

 They appear to the right of the decimal point

whole number decimal

39.1
“39” is the whole number part
“.1” is the decimal part

 “0.1” is the same thing as

 “39.1” is read… “.1”. “.1” is just a lazy way of
writing the number.
“Thirty-nine and one tenth”
15 Minute Math – Decimals
Lesson # 1 – What Are Decimals?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10,000. The “3” is in the hundreds column,

+ 2,000.
so there are “3 hundreds”.  Remember, decimals
+ 300. have a “th” at the end
If all the other numbers were
+ 40. a 0, then the number would be of their names.
+ 5. 00300.0000, which is 300 (three hundred.)
+ .6
+ .07 The “7” is in the hundredths column,
+ .008 so there are “7 hundredths.”
+ .0009 If every other number were a 0, then the number
12,345.6789 would be 00000.0700, which is 0.07 (seven hundredths.)
15 Minute Math – Decimals
Lesson # 1 – What Are Decimals?

To read a number…

For example: 20.045 is read, “Twenty and forty-five thousandths.”

 Extra zeroes to the far right of a

decimal don’t change the value, but
they do change how you pronounce
the number.

0.2 = 0.20 = 0.200 but…

0.2 = “two tenths”
0.20 = “twenty hundredths”
0.200 = “two hundred thousandths“
 15 Minute Math – Decimals
Lesson # 1 – What Are Decimals?

Try it yourself

What numbers are these?

Three and two hundredths = 3.02
Forty and two thousandth =
Twelve and twelve hundredths =
Eighty and eighty ten-thousands =

How do you say these numbers?

37.03 = Thirty-seven and three hundredths
9.04 =
20.040 =
100.01 =
Click for answers:

Which of these are true: Forty and two thousandth = 40.002

Twelve and twelve hundredths = 12.12
A) 2.01 = 2.010 B) 2.01 = 2.001 Eighty and eighty ten-thousands = 80.0080

C) 2.001 = 2.100 D) 2.10 = 2.010 9.04 = nine and four hundredths

E) 2.10 = 2.100 F) 2.0010 = 2.001 20.040 = twenty and forty thousands
100.01 = one hundred and one hundredth

End of Lesson 1 A, E, and F are true

15 Minute Math – Decimals
Lesson # 2 – Addition & Subtraction

This lesson explains how to add and subtract

numbers that have a decimal point.
Problem: You need to take 3 grams of pain medication. You’ve already
taken 0.75 grams of pain medication from a multi-purpose formula. How
much more medication do you need?

3.00
-0.75
2.25

When adding and subtracting numbers with decimal points, ALWAYS line up
the decimal points!
15 Minute Math – Decimals
Lesson # 2 – Addition & Subtraction

 Line up the decimals points

 Put zeroes in the blank spaces to help you see what you’re
adding
1 7 1
24.3 + 18.45  24.30 18.62 – 3.8  /
18.62
+18.45 - 3.80
42.75 14.82

 When adding, don’t forget to carry when numbers add

up to more than 10.
 When subtracting, don’t forget to borrow if the top
number is smaller than the bottom number.
15 Minute Math – Decimals
Lesson # 2 – Addition & Subtraction

 All numbers have a decimal point, even if you can’t see it.
For example, $15 can also be written as $15.00

99 9 9
1
20 + 4.02  20.00 100 – 25.783  100.000
/// //
+ 4.02 - 25.783
24.02 74.217

 Even if you don’t

see the decimal point,
it’s actually at the end.
100 = 100. = 100.00
Remember when you’re borrowing, you
can’t borrow from nothing (zero). Make
sure you borrow all the way over to the
first non-zero number you find.
 15 Minute Math – Decimals
Lesson # 2 – Addition & Subtraction

Try it yourself

2.89 + 1.5 = 20.6 + 10.9 = 3.13 + 9 =

20 + 8.2 = 9.373 + 3.34 = 9 + 2.8 =

12.99 – 8.1 = 19 – 3.2 = 2.933 – 1.2 =

8.4 – 5.555 = 20 – 2.5 = 100 – 2.66 =

Click for answers:

2.89 + 1.5 = 4.39 20.6 + 10.9 = 31.5 3.13 + 9 = 12.13
20 + 8.2 = 28.2 9.373 + 3.34 = 12.713 9 + 2.8 = 11.8
12.99 – 8.1 = 4.89 19 – 3.2 = 15.8 2.933 – 1.2 = 1.733
End of Lesson 2 8.4 – 5.555 = 2.845 20 – 2.5 = 17.5 100 – 2.66 = 97.34
15 Minute Math – Decimals
Lesson # 3 – Multiplication

This lesson explains how to multiply numbers that

have a decimal point.
Problem: You need to buy 12 cans of paint costing $5.29 each. How much
will you pay?

5.29
× 12
63.48

When multiplying numbers with decimal points, count the total number of
numbers to the right of the decimal point in the problem and make sure
the answer has the same number!
15 Minute Math – Decimals
Lesson # 3 – Multiplication

 Don’t worry about the decimal until you’re done multiplying

everything
 First multiply, and then count up the places to the right of the
decimal point and put the decimal in the answer.

3.51 x 1.4  351  first, multiply 351 by 4

 then, multiply 351 by 10
×14  then, add up the numbers
1404  last, since there are a total of 3
decimal places in the problem,
3 decimal +3510 start from the right and move the
places decimal 3 places to the left in the
4914  4.914 answer (the problem has 3
decimal places and so does the
answer)
So, 3.51 x 1.4 = 4.914!
15 Minute Math – Decimals
Lesson # 3 – Multiplication

 Remember to only count numbers to the RIGHT of the decimal

point.

2.3 × 0.0002  23
×2
46  0.00046  Sometimes you may see
.00046 instead of
5 decimal 0.00046. Both are
places right, but it’s more
common to put a 0 in
5 decimal the ones place.
places

So, 2.3 x 0.0002 = 0.00046!

15 Minute Math – Decimals
Lesson # 3 – Multiplication

 There are some shortcuts you can take if you’re multiplying by a

multiple of 10. Multiples of 10 are things like 10, 100, 1000 and
also things like 0.1, 0.01, 0.001, etc.

shift the decimal left 4 places (if you move the decimal point right
(don’t see the decimal point it’s at the end) 2 spaces (100 has 2 0’s)
297 × 0.0001 = 0.0297 2.309 × 100 = 230.9

Try not to think about if you’re moving the

4 decimal decimal to the right or the left. Think if you need
places to make the number larger (because you’re
multiplying by a number bigger than 1) or if you
need to make the number smaller (because you’re
multiplying by a number between 0 and 1). Then
move the decimal point in the direction that will
make the number bigger or smaller.
 15 Minute Math – Decimals
Lesson # 3 – Multiplication

Try it yourself

27.2 × 9.2 = 3.2904 × 0.22 = 62.5 × 12.8 =

38 × 0.25 = 0.034 × 0.026 = 8.02 × 2.1 =

2.04 × 0.001 = 589 × 100 = 10.2 × 1.2 =

0.34 × 0.5 = 5.89 × 100 = 9.9999 × 0.01 =

Click for answers:

27.2 × 9.2 = 250.24 3.2904 × 0.22 = 0.723888 62.5 × 12.8 = 800
38 × 0.25 = 9.5 0.034 × 0.026 = 0.000884 8.02 × 2.1 = 16.842
2.04 × 0.001 = 0.00204 589 × 100 = 58,900 10.2 × 1.2 = 12.24
End of Lesson 3 0.34 × 0.5 = 0.17 5.89 × 100 = 589 9.9999 × 0.01 = 0.099999
15 Minute Math – Decimals
Lesson # 4 – Division

This lesson explains how to divide numbers that

have a decimal point.
Problem: A wall measures 96.5 inches tall. You need to install 3.25 inch tall
siding panels. How many panels do you need?

26.5
3.25|96.5

When dividing numbers with decimal points, decimal point placement is key.
 15 Minute Math – Decimals
Lesson # 4 – Division

 Remind yourself of the steps you need to take when dividing

1. Divide 8 8203
21|172263 21|172263
-168
2. Multiply 8 42
21|172263 -42
-168 06
- 0
3. Subtract 8 63
21|172263 -63
-168 0
4

4. Bring down one 8

more number 21|172263
-168
and do it again 42
 15 Minute Math – Decimals
Lesson # 4 – Division

Step 1 - Move the decimal of the divisor (outside the house) as far to
the right as you can
Step 2 - Move the decimal of the dividend (inside the house) by the
same number of spaces
Step 3 - Move the decimal straight up onto the answer line
Step 4 - Divide like normal

Problem Steps 1 & 2 Step 3 Step 4

. 2.7
8.91 ÷ 3.3  3.3 |8.91  33 |89.1  33 |89.1  33 |89.1
- 66
 Think of the division sign, | , like a house. With all division 231
problems, the first number goes inside the house (the 8.91) and the - 231
second goes outside the house (3.3).
 If you forget, think about a problem you know. 10 ÷ 2 = 5. You 0
wouldn’t say 10 | 2. To work it out you’d say 2 |10 (2 goes into 10.)
 15 Minute Math – Decimals
Lesson # 4 – Division

Problem Steps 1 & 2 Step 3 Step 4

. 27.
8.91 ÷ 0.33  0.33 |8.91  33 |891.  33 |891.  33 |891.
Move the decimal 2 places to the right
- 66
231
- 231
0

Problem Steps 1 & 2 Step 3

Step 4
. 2700.
8.91 ÷ 0.0033 0.0033 |8.91  33 |89100.  33 |89100.  33 |89100.
Move the decimal 2 places to the right
- 66
Fill in the empty spaces with zeroes 231
- 231
0
 15 Minute Math – Decimals
Lesson # 4 – Division

Try it yourself

3.2 ÷ 64 = 60.8 ÷ 19 = 187.53 ÷ 3 =

3.2 ÷ 6.4 = 60.8 ÷ 0.19 = 187.53 ÷ 0.03 =

32 ÷ 6.4 = 0.608 ÷ 0.19 = 18753 ÷ 0.3 =

32 ÷ 0.00064 = 608 ÷ 1.9 = 0.0018753 ÷ 0.3 =

Click for answers:

3.2 ÷ 64 = 0.05 60.8 ÷ 19 = 3.2 187.53 ÷ 3 = 62.51
3.2 ÷ 6.4 = 0.5 60.8 ÷ 0.19 = 320 187.53 ÷ 0.03 = 6251
32 ÷ 6.4 = 5 0.608 ÷ 0.19 = 3.2 18753 ÷ 0.3 = 62510
End of Lesson 4 32 ÷ 0.00064 = 50000 608 ÷ 1.9 = 320 0.0018753 ÷ 0.3 = 0.006251