Monday, June 25

Decimal Numbers


Decimals:
The Number system that we follow is called base 10 number system. In this system, we have numbers between 0 and 9, which defines every other number.  Fractional part of a number can be expressed as decimals.
What is a decimal?
Decimal is way of representing a fraction without numerator and denominator. The period or decimal point signifies that the number following it is fractional part. Decimal number can be either greater than or lesser than one. In case of decimal numbers, which are less than one, the leading number is zero.
Example:
39/10 = 3.9 [Decimal number greater than one]
79/100 = 0.79 [Decimal number less than one]
Decimal Place value:
In numbers, position of a number decides its value.
For example in counting number 345, the 3 represents three hundreds, 4 represents four tens and 5 represents 5 units. Similarly, in decimal numbers also, we have place value
Naming decimals:
One tenths = 1/10
One hundredths = 1/100
In 0.7, there are seven tenths.
In 0.79, there are seventy nine hundredths
In 0.798, there are seven hundred and ninety eight thousandths.
Decimal to fraction:
Let us learn how to convert a decimal into fraction.
Step 1: Find the number digits after the decimal point
Step 2: Write the number without the decimal point in the numerator
Step 3: in denominator write 1, followed by as many zeros as the number of digits after the decimal point in the given number
Example: Convert 0.347 into a fraction
Step 1: Number of digits after the decimal point is 3
Step 2: Numerator = 347
Step 3: Denominator = 1000
Hence, the fraction is 347/1000
Decimal to percent:
Let us learn how to convert a decimal number into a percentage.
To convert decimal to percent, multiply the decimal number by 100 and add % sign.
In other words, shift the decimal point to the right and add % sign.
Example: Convert 0.95 into percentage.
0.95 x 100 = 95%
Convert 0.895 into percentage.
0.895 x 100 = 89.5%
Rounding decimals:
Reducing the number of digits without any appreciable change in its value is called Rounding off.  You need to know how many digits you would like to have after the decimal point to round off.
It involves two steps.
Step 1: Decide the number of digits that want to keep in a decimal number.
Step 2: Increase by 1 if the next digit is greater than or equal to 5.
Step 3: Leave it, as it is if the next digit is less than 5.
Example:
Round off 0.789 to nearest hundredths.
0.789 is rounded off to 0.79, as the next digit 9 is greater than 5.
Round off 0.5674 to nearest thousandths.
0.5674 is rounded off to 0.567, as the next digit 4 is less than 5.