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Math help from the Learning Centre

This guide provides useful resources for a wide variety of math topics. It is targeted at students enrolled in a math course or any other Centennial course that requires math knowledge and skills.

Decimal Notation

The dot represents a decimal point where place values are separated by what is to the left and right. To the right of the decimal points such as a tenth \(\frac{1}{10}\), a hundredth \(\frac{1}{100}\), and so on. 


Example

Name the following numbers:

1) \(203.65\) = Two hundred three and sixty-five hundredths

2) \(2.008\) = Two and eight thousandths

Example

Write out the following numbers:

1) One thousand twenty-two and three tenths = \(1022.3\)

2) Eighty thousand and eighty thousandths = \(80,000.080\)

Converting Between Fractions and Decimals

The decimal place value determines how to convert a decimal into a fraction.

Example 

\[0.045\] 

ends at the thousandths place value. Therefore you put the number over 1000

\[=\frac{45}{1000}\]

Simplify the fraction

\[=\frac{9}{20}\]

See video below for more examples, including mixed fractions and converting from fractions back to decimals.

Rounding

Rounding Decimal Notation

To round to a certain place:

  1. Locate the digit in that place.
  2. Consider the next digit to the right.
  3. If the digit to the right is 5 or greater, round up; if the digit to the right is 4 or lower, keep digit the same. 

Example 1

Round \(0.084\) to the nearest tenth.

Solution

Locate the digit in the tenths place

\[0.\underline{0}84\]

Consider the next digit to the right, 8

Since 8 is greater than or equal to 5, round up.

\[0.1\]

 

Example 2

Round \(212.5604\) to the nearest hundredths

Solution

Locate the digit in the hundredths place

\[212.5\underline{6}04\]

Consider the next digit to the right, 0

Since 0 is 4 or lower, keep digit the same.

\[212.56\]

Decimal Arithmetic Operations

Example 1

You bought 3 items: one for $4.50, one for $0.35 and one for $15.04. What was your total?

Solution

The total price is the sum of the prices of each individual item.

\[4.50+0.35+15.04=$18.98\]


Example 2

The price of a jacket originally costing $80.89 was discounted by $15.49. What is the new price of the jacket?

Solution

We have to subtract the discount from the original price.

\[Original \; price - discount = 80.89-15.49 = $65.40\]


Example 3

Using the formula \(Interest = Principal \times rate \times time\), what is the interest earned on a principal of $1000 with an interest rate of \(4%\) over 5 years?

Solution

We need to multiply $1000 by 0.04 and 5 to get the total interest.

\[1000 \times 0.04 \times 5 = $200\]

The interest earned is $200.


Example 4

You paid $128.94 for 6 lamps. How much does each lamp cost?
Round to the nearest cent.

Solution

\[6\overline{)128.94}=21.49\]

Each lamp costs $21.49.

Creative Commons License
Designed by Matthew Cheung. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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