Female, dark hair, striped shirt: The numbers to the left of the decimal point if a whole number and then the numbers to the right of the decimal point will be a smaller fraction of the whole number.
Female, dark hair, earrings, dark green top: I call them a dot, it's the dot what's important.
Female, dark hair, striped shirt: If it's 35.5 then you've got 35 whole numbers and then half a whole number as well.
Female, striped shirt: You mostly come across using decimal points when you're taking a patient's temperature.
Male, dark hair, facial hair, light shirt: In construction you use decimals quite a lot because obviously with measurements they're never exactly bang on a square number.
Male, dark hair, facial hair, light shirt: There's 10mm in a centimetre so 0.7cms in 7mm.
Male market stall holder, striped shirt: £2 my love.
Unseen female: Two?
Male market stall holder, striped shirt: Two.
Lovely, cheers darling, thank you.
Male market stall holder, striped shirt: Here are, £1.20 a pound on the cherries.
Male market stall holder, striped shirt: People use decimals every day because money is decimals.
These cherries are £1.20 which is 1.20 a decimal.
Male market stall holder, striped shirt: There you go.
Thank you.
Male market stall holder, striped shirt: If I didn't understand decimals then I'd get all the prices wrong on the produce and then I'd lose money.
Decimals are used to show numbers that are between two whole numbers. For example, 2.5 and 3.87.
Quick tips for tutors
Decimals includes:
- The use of decimal place value and digits
- Decimals in different contexts
- How zero is used as a place holder and it’s importance
- Writing decimals in word and digit form
- Comparing the size of decimals
- Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing with decimals
- Approximations and rounding with decimals
Decimal numbers and the decimal point. interactive
Test your knowledge of decimals with this Bitesize interactive guide.
Downloadable Factsheets
Entry 1 & 2 - Decimals in life
Examples of where we see decimals used in everyday life.
Entry 1 & 2 - All kinds of decimals
Examples of decimal numbers and units of measurement.
Entry 3 - Revising decimals
Revision: how to use decimals.
Entry 3 - Decimals and calculators
How to enter decimals into calculators.
Entry 3 - Decimals and measurements
How decimals are used in measurements.
Entry 3 - Decimals and money
How decimals are used in the context of money.
Entry 3 - The decimal point and reading decimals
Understanding the use of the decimal point.
Entry 3 - What are decimals?
Understanding what a decimal is and how they are used.
Entry 3 - Using zero with decimals
How to use a zero with decimals.
Level 1 - Approximation and rounding
How to approximate decimals by rounding to a whole number and to one or two places.
Level 1 - How to compare and order decimals
Understanding how to compare and order decimals.
Level 1 - Dividing decimal numbers
How to divide decimal numbers.
Leve 1 - Multiplying decimal numbers
How to multiply decimal numbers.
Level 1 - Understanding place values and place holders
An introduction to place values and place holders.
Level 1 - Introducing decimal numbers
An introduction on decimal numbers.
Downloadable Worksheets
Entry 3 - Comparing the cost of goods
Exercise in comparing the cost of goods written to two decimal places.
Entry 3 - Comparing the cost of goods: taking it further
Exercise in ordering the price of goods to the decimal place.
Entry 3 - Matching money
Exercise in matching written and decimal amounts of money.
Entry 3 - Metres and centimetres 1
Exercise in matching amounts written in metres and centimetres into decimals of a metre.
Entry 3 - Metres and centimetres 2
Exercise in ordering measurements in decimal forms.
Entry 3 - Place value 1
Exercise in place value.
Entry 3 - Place value 2
Exercise in place value, putting decimals in the correct order.
Entry 3 - Using a calculator
Exercise in using decimals with a calculator.
Entry 3 - Zero as a place holder
Exercise in matching decimal amounts with zero included as a place holder.
Level 1 - Adding and subtracting decimals
An activity to practise adding and subtracting decimal problems.
Level 1 - Comparing and ordering decimals
Exercise in comparing and ordering decimals.
Level 1 - Dividing decimals
Exercise in dividing decimals.
Level 1- Multiplying decimals
Exercise in multiplying decimals.
Level 1 - Place values and place holders
Exercise in place values and place holders.
Level 1 - Reading and writing decimal numbers
Exercise in matching decimals in words and digits.
