Decimal place value
Objective. Interpret tenths, hundredths and thousandths accurately.
- 1. Learn
- 2. Worked example
- 3. Practice
- 4. Feedback
- 5. Continue
Learn: the key idea
Decimal place value extends the columns to the right of the decimal point: tenths, hundredths, thousandths. Each column is one tenth of the column to its left. In 3.405 the 4 is worth 4 tenths (0.4), the 0 holds the hundredths column empty and the 5 is worth 5 thousandths (0.005). So 3.405 = 3 + 0.4 + 0.005. Comparing decimals means comparing column by column from the left.
Worked example
Which number is greatest: 3.45, 3.405, 3.5 or 3.054?
- 3.45
- 3.405
- 3.5
- 3.054
- 1Line up the decimal points so the columns match.
- 2Compare the ones: every number has 3 ones.
- 3Compare the tenths: 4, 4, 5 and 0.
- 45 tenths is the largest, so 3.5 is the greatest.
Answer: 3.5
Concept mastery
Based on your past attempts at this lesson — the question types to practise again come first.
Complete a practice set to see your concept breakdown here.
Practice
Practice happens on its own screen, one question at a time. Answers stay hidden until you submit yours, and you can stop and pick up at the same question later.
Start practisingCommon mistake. A common mistake is thinking a longer decimal is bigger, so 3.405 looks larger than 3.5. Line up the decimal points and compare the tenths first: 5 tenths beats 4 tenths, so 3.5 is larger.
Your progress
Tick each step as you finish it. Your exact reading position is saved automatically, so Continue drops you back on the same line.
0 of 5 steps complete
Your place saves automatically as you read.