Decimals (Module III, page 15)

When reading the section on decimal numbers starting on page 19 of module III it is important to realize that the base ten system is central to the process of representing numbers in decimal form. Know what the different positions before and after the decimal point represent , for example :

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When converting decimals to fractions and fractions to decimals pay particular attention to the processes given on pages 15 and 23 . You also want to be familiar with the definitions of mixed number , proper and improper fractions .

We read the number above as "four-thousand three-hundred fifty-two AND three-thousand two-hundred seventy-nine ten-thousandths" . What does the word "and" represent in the given number ?

When adding and subtracting decimals it is important to line up the decimal points vertically as shown on page 34 (there is minor printing error on page 35, 5.61 was not lined up). Is it also important to line up decimal points vertically when multiplying decimal numbers ?

There are some good examples of division of decimals on page 37 of Module III . One thing I want to amplify on these examples is the position of the decimal point in the quotient :

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In this example the divisor , 2.53, is converted to a whole number by moving the decimal to the right . The decimal in the dividend is moved to the right by the same number of places . After this moving of decimals is done immediatly place a decimal point directly above the new position in the dividend as shown in figure 3.2 . Then proceed with the division as shown in figure 3.3 .