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1.7: Decimal Fractions

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Overview

  • Decimal Fractions
  • Adding and Subtracting Decimal Fractions
  • Multiplying Decimal Fractions
  • Dividing Decimal Fractions
  • Converting Decimal Fractions to Fractions
  • Converting Fractions to Decimal Fractions

Decimal Fractions

Fractions are one way we can represent parts of whole numbers. Decimal fractions are another way of representing parts of whole numbers.

Decimal Fractions

A decimal fraction is a fraction in which the denominator is a power of 10.

A decimal fraction uses a decimal point to separate whole parts and fractional parts. Whole parts are written to the left of the decimal point and fractional parts are written to the right of the decimal point. Just as each digit in a whole number has a particular value, so do the digits in decimal positions.

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Sample Set A

The following numbers are decimal fractions

Example 1.7.1

57.9

The 9 is in the tenths position. 57.9 = 10910.

Example 1.7.2

6.8014

The 8 is in the tenths position.

The 0 is in the hundredths position.

The 1 is in the thousandths position.

The 4 is in the ten thousandths position.

6.8014 = 6801410000.

Adding and Subtracting Decimal Fractions

Adding/Subtracting Decimal Fractions:

To add or subtract decimal fractions,

  1. Align the numbers vertically so that the decimal points line up under each other and corresponding decimal positions are in the same column. Add zeros if necessary.
  2. Add or subtract the numbers as if they were whole numbers.
  3. Place a decimal point in the resulting sum or difference directly under the other decimal points.

Sample Set B

Find each sum or difference

Example 1.7.3

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Example 1.7.4

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Example 1.7.5

clipboard_e78931fdcd0ab185080223fb89a946e6e.png

Multiplying Decimal Fractions

Multiplying Decimal Fractions

To multiply decimals,

  1. Multiply the numbers as if they were whole numbers.
  2. Find the sum of the number of decimal places in the factors.
  3. The number of decimal places in the product is the sum found in step 2.

Sample Set C

Find the following products

Example 1.7.6

clipboard_e9a2205a67b0ff9b184b9e94b27f5300c.png

Example 1.7.7

clipboard_e7fe21e750898d21ed9851636a9a8e0c1.png

Dividing Decimal Fractions

Dividing Decimal Fractions

To divide a decimal by a nonzero decimal,

  1. Convert the divisor to a whole number by moving the decimal point to the position immediately to the right of the divisor’s last digit.
  2. Move the decimal point of the dividend to the right the same number of digits it was moved in the divisor.
  3. Set the decimal point in the quotient by placing a decimal point directly above the decimal point in the dividend.
  4. Divide as usual.

Sample Set D

Find the following quotients

Example 1.7.8

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Example 1.7.9

clipboard_e99cc7a86f383544f60a07a618f0dc751.png

Example 1.7.10

clipboard_eddecf73ac4c0ceee99b1eed28da9da56.png

Converting Decimal Fractions to Fractions

We can convert a decimal fraction to a fraction by reading it and then writing the phrase we have just read. As we read the decimal fraction, we note the place value farthest to the right. We may have to reduce the fraction.

Sample Set E

Convert each decimal fraction to a fraction

Example 1.7.11

clipboard_ee771b2283db4f531418ef8c383937923.png

Example 1.7.12

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Converting Fractions to Decimal Fractions

Sample Set F

Convert the following fractions to decimals. If the division is nonterminating, round to 2 decimal places.

Example 1.7.13

clipboard_ef7a4e04a8fa9406d8f6ff9e0bb74ca7d.png

Example 1.7.14

clipboard_e9f18a5e71406773c7600d66bfb1bca1e.png

Example 1.7.15

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Example 1.7.16

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Example 1.7.17

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Exercises

For the following problems, perform each indicated operation.

Exercise 1.7.1

1.84 + 7.11

Answer

8.95

Exercise 1.7.2

15.015 - 6.527

Exercise 1.7.3

4.904 - 2.67

Answer

2.234

Exercise 1.7.4

156.33 − 24.095

Exercise 1.7.5

.0012 + 1.53 + 5.1

Answer

6.6312

Exercise 1.7.6

44.98 + 22.8 − 12.76

Exercise 1.7.7

5.0004 − 3.00004 + 1.6837

Answer

3.68406

Exercise 1.7.8

1.11 + 12.1212 − 13.131313

Exercise 1.7.9

4.26 ⋅ 3.2

Answer

13.632

Exercise 1.7.10

2.97 ⋅ 3.15

Exercise 1.7.11

23.05 ⋅ 1.1

Answer

25.355

Exercise 1.7.12

5.009 ⋅ 2.106

Exercise 1.7.13

0.1 ⋅ 3.24

Answer

0.324

Exercise 1.7.14

100 ⋅ 12.008

Exercise 1.7.15

1000 ⋅ 12.008

Answer

12,008

Exercise 1.7.16

10,000 ⋅ 12.008

Exercise 1.7.17

75.642 ÷ 18.01

Answer

4.2

Exercise 1.7.18

51.811 ÷ 1.97

Exercise 1.7.19

0.0000448 ÷ 0.014

Answer

0.0032

Exercise 1.7.20

0.129516 ÷ 1004

For the following problems, convert each decimal fraction to a fraction.

Exercise 1.7.21

0.06

Answer

350

Exercise 1.7.22

0.115

Exercise 1.7.23

3.7

Answer

3710

Exercise 1.7.24

48.1162

Exercise 1.7.25

712.00004

Answer

712125000

For the following problems, convert each fraction to a decimal fraction. If the decimal form is nonterminating,round to 3 decimal places.

Exercise 1.7.26

58

Exercise 1.7.27

920

Answer

0.45

Exercise \(\PageIndex{28\)

15 ÷ 22

Exercise 1.7.29

711

Answer

0.636

Exercise 1.7.30

29


This page titled 1.7: Decimal Fractions is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Denny Burzynski & Wade Ellis, Jr. (OpenStax CNX) .

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