4.3 Study Guide
Decimals
Learning Goals
4.3
a) read, write, represent, and identify decimals expressed through thousandths;
b) round decimals to the nearest whole number, tenth, and hundredth;
c) compare and order decimals; and
d) given a model, write the decimal and fraction equivalents.
Vocabulary
Rounding – reducing the digits in a number while trying to keep the value similar
Comparing – seeing whether two numbers are greater than, less than, or
equal to each other
Whole Number – the counting numbers plus zero (0, 1, 2, 3, 4…)
Decimal – A part of a number that is less than one whole
Nearest Whole - Term used when rounding a decimal number to the ones place
Tenths – the first place after the decimal
Hundredths - the second place after the decimal
Thousandths – the third place after the decimal
Greater than - >
Less than - <
Equal to - =
Skills and Strategies

Reading decimals: Decimals are named by the place of the last digit. When reading a decimal
number that also has a whole part, use the word “and” at the decimal.
0.4 – four tenths
0.56 – fifty-six hundredths
5.6 – five and six tenths

to determine if you should round up or down.
rounded to the nearest whole (ones):
5.829
=6
rounded to the tenths place
5.829
= 5.8
rounded to the hundredths place
5.829
= 5.83
Comparing decimals: Line the decimals up vertically using the decimal point. Be sure to compare
each place, beginning with the largest place (left to right)
0.114
0.6

45.04 – forty-five and four hundredths
Rounding decimals: Underline the place that you are rounding to. Look to the place to the right
Example: 5.829

0.679 – six hundred seventy-nine thousandths
0.114 < 0.6
Ordering decimals : Line them up vertically using the decimal point to compare them. Determine
the correct order (least to greatest or greatest to least).
0.50
0.56
0.375
0.375, 0.50, 0.56

Relating fractions and decimals : Decimals are represented as tenths, hundredths, and
thousandths. They can also be written as a fraction.
0.2 =
2
10
0.34 =
34
100
0.984 =
984
1000
7.89 =
7 89
100