Decimals numbers are numbers lying between two integers on a number line. They are just other ways of representing rational numbers in mathematics. With the help of decimals, we can write more precise values of measurable quantities like length, weight, distance, money, etc. For example, we may say

• A full marathon distance is equal to 42.195 km.
• The body weight/mass of a person is 78.5 kg.
• Half of 1 in a decimal number = 0.5

Such numbers are called decimal numbers. The dot presented between the integer to the left of the dot and the fractional part to the right of the dot is called the decimal point.

For example, 42.195 is a decimal number. Here, 42 is an integer part and 195 is the fractional part which is always less than 1. [.195 = 0.195] “.” is the decimal point.

Place value of decimals

Study the place values of each digit in the number 425.386 When we are going towards the left of the decimal point, each place is ten times greater than the previous place value. So, to the right of the decimal point, we have tenths

to the right of tenths, we have hundredths

and to the right of hundredths, we have thousandths