Hands-on math!

Decimal number

A decimal number is a number with a decimal point in it, like these numbers:

     1.5      .6     3.14

The number to the left of the decimal is an ordinary whole number.
The first number to the right of the decimal is the number of tenths (1/10's).
The second is the number of hundredths (1/100's) and so on.

So, for the number 1.5, this is a shorthand way of writing the mixed number

1 5/10.

3.14 is a shorthand way of writing 3 + 1/10 + 4/100.
Now, here is a problem for you:
Can you write the decimal for 3 3/10?

A decimal can be converted to either a fraction or a percent.
Click here to see how to convert between decimals, fractions and percents.