What is a decimal?

A decimal is a way of writing numbers that aren't whole using a decimal point. Digits after the point show tenths, hundredths, thousandths and so on. It's an extension of place value: 0.7 is seven tenths, and 0.25 is twenty-five hundredths (the same as 1/4).

Examples

• 0.5 means five tenths, the same as 1/2.
• In 3.14, the 1 is one tenth and the 4 is four hundredths.
• $2.75 is 2 dollars and 75 hundredths.

Quick facts

• The first place after the point is tenths, then hundredths, then thousandths.
• Decimals, fractions and percentages are three ways of writing the same value.