<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="1; url=/nojavascript/">
You are viewing an older version of this Concept. Go to the latest version.

Decimals in Words

Write given numbers in words to the ten-thousandths place.

0%
Progress
Practice Decimals in Words
Progress
0%
Decimals in Words

Julie has figured out how to identify decimals and how to determine the place value of certain decimals. She also knows how to write one out in expanded notation. With confidence, she was able to finish this section of her homework.

What about writing decimals? Do you know how to do that?

Well, the next part of Julie's homework requires that she know how to write a decimal out in words. Here is the first decimal in this part of the homework.

$.567$

Julie isn't sure how to write this one out.

This Concept is all about reading and writing decimals. This is exactly what is needed for Julie to be successful in her assignment.

Guidance

We have been learning all about figuring out the value of different decimals. We have used place value to write them, we have used pictures and we have stretched them out. Now it is time to learn to read and write them directly. Let’s start with reading decimals.

How do we read a decimal?

We read a decimal by using the words that show the place value of the last digit of the decimal.

$.45$

To help us read this decimal, we can put it into our place value chart.

Hundred Tens Ones Tenths Hundredths Thousandths

Ten

Thousandths

. 4 5

We read this decimal by using the place value of the last digit to the right of the decimal point. Normally, we would read this number as forty-five. Because it is a decimal, we read forty-five hundredths. The last digit is a five and it is in the hundredths place.

Can we use place value to write the number too?

Yes we can. We write the number as we normally would.

Forty-five

Next, we add the place value of the last digit to the right of the decimal point.

Forty-five hundredths

Our answer is forty-five hundredths.

We can use this method to read and write any decimal. What about a decimal with more digits?

$.5421$

First, let’s put this number in our place value chart.

Hundred Tens Ones Tenths Hundredths Thousandths

Ten

Thousandths

. 5 4 2 1

First, let’s read the number. We can look at the number without the decimal. It would read:

Five thousand four hundred twenty-one

Next we add the place value of the last digit

Ten thousandth

Five thousand four hundred and twenty-one ten thousandths

This is our answer.

It is also the way we write the number in words too. Notice that is it very important that we add the THS to the end of the place value when working with decimals.

Now let's practice. Write each decimal in words.

Example A

$.7$

Solution: Seven Tenths

Example B

$.765$

Solution: Seven Hundred and Sixty - Five Thousandths

Example C

$.2219$

Solution: Two Thousand Two Hundred and Nineteen Ten - Thousandths

Do you have it? Now it's time to help Julie with this part of her math homework. Here is the original problem once again.

Julie has figured out how to identify decimals and how to figure out the place value of certain decimals. She also knows how to write one out in expanded notation. With confidence, she was able to finish this section of her homework.

What about writing decimals? Do you know how to do that?

Well, the next part of Julie's homework requires that she know how to write a decimal out in words. Here is the first decimal in this part of the homework.

$.567$

Julie isn't sure how to write this one out.

First, let's read the number as if it wasn't a decimal.

Five hundred and sixty - seven.

But because this is a decimal, we have to add the place value of the last digit to the right. This is a seven in the thousandths place.

Our answer is five hundred and sixty - seven thousandths.

Vocabulary

Whole number
a number that represents a whole quantity
Decimal
a part of a whole
Decimal point
the point in a decimal that divides parts and wholes
Expanded form
writing out a decimal the long way to represent the value of each place value in a number

Guided Practice

Here is one for you to try on your own.

Write the following decimal in words.

$.1345$

First, we can write the decimal out as if it wasn't a decimal.

One thousand three hundred and forty - five

Next, we add the place value of the last digit which is a five in the ten - thousandths place.

Our answer is one thousand three hundred and forty - five ten - thousandths.

Practice

Directions: Write out each decimal in words.

1. .5

2. .8

3. .21

4. .18

5. .4

6. .56

7. .93

8. .801

9. .834

10. .355

11. .155

12. .624

13. .5623

14. .9783

15. .5671

16. .2134

17. .0123

18. .0098

19. .0008

20. .0001

Vocabulary Language: English

Decimal

Decimal

In common use, a decimal refers to part of a whole number. The numbers to the left of a decimal point represent whole numbers, and each number to the right of a decimal point represents a fractional part of a power of one-tenth. For instance: The decimal value 1.24 indicates 1 whole unit, 2 tenths, and 4 hundredths (commonly described as 24 hundredths).
Decimal point

Decimal point

A decimal point is a period that separates the complete units from the fractional parts in a decimal number.
Expanded Form

Expanded Form

Expanded form refers to a base and an exponent written as repeated multiplication.
Whole Numbers

Whole Numbers

The whole numbers are all positive counting numbers and zero. The whole numbers are 0, 1, 2, 3, ...