After the decimal point come tenths, hundredths and thousandths. In 4.367, the 3 is 3 tenths, the 6 is 6 hundredths and the 7 is 7 thousandths. Each place is one tenth of the place to its left.
We can write a decimal in expanded form: 4.367 = 4 + 3/10 + 6/100 + 7/1000. A zero holds an empty place, so 2 + 5/10 + 8/1000 is 2.508, with a zero in the hundredths place. Read 2.508 as two and five hundred eight thousandths.
Worked example
Write 7 + 4/10 + 9/1000 as a decimal.
- 7 ones, 4 tenths, no hundredths, 9 thousandths.
- Put a zero in the hundredths place.
Answer:7.409
Key words
- tenths
- the first place after the point
- hundredths
- the second place after the point
- thousandths
- the third place after the point
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: 5.NBT.A.3