When we looked at place value, we looked at how numbers can be written in a place value table so we can write and understand the value of a number. We started with the ones/ units column, then went up to tens, hundreds, thousands and so on!
However, did you know that the place value table also has columns that are smaller than ones? These are used to show parts of a whole and also go on for ever and ever until we get to very, very tiny values.
Let's learn more about these now.
"Tenths" means "out of ten."
$10$10 tenths make $1$1 whole.
Worked Examples
QUestion 1
Write the fraction $\frac{1}{2}$12 as a decimal by following these steps.
Firstly, write $\frac{1}{2}$12 as a fraction out of $10$10.
$\frac{1}{2}$12$=$=$\frac{\editable{}}{\editable{}}$
Now use your answer in part a to write $\frac{1}{2}$12 as a decimal.
question 2
Write the decimal $0.5$0.5 as a fraction by following the steps below.
Fill in the blank.
$0.5$0.5$=$=$\frac{\editable{}}{10}$10
Now write $\frac{5}{10}$510 as a simplified fraction.
question 3
Write the decimal $5.5$5.5 as an improper fraction.