how do you read decimals.

Question

How do you read decimals numbers?

Answer 1

Reading decimals is similar to reading whole numbers in that each digit has a specific place value.  For example in the number 36.48 the 3 is in the tens place, the 6 is in the ones place, the 4 is in the tenths place, and the 8 is in the hundreths place. 

There are several important steps to reading a number containing a decimal. 

1. Read the number to the right of the decimal  (0.48) 
• The number to the right of the decimal is 48 - read as forty eight. 
2. The second step is to identify the place value of the final digit (0.48)
• The final digit is 8. 
• The place value of the 8 is the hundreths position.   
3. The third step is to put steps one and two together (0.48).  
•  The number following the decimal is read as forty eight hundreths.

Reading a number containing both whole numbers and decimals (36.48)

There are several important steps to reading a number containing both whole numbers and decimals.

1. Read the whole number to the left of the decimal (36)
• The number to the left of the decimal (36) is read as thirty six.
2. The decimal point (.) is read as the word "and"
3. Read the numbers to the right of the decimal (48)
• The number to the right of the decimal (48) is read as forty eight.
4. Identify the place value of the final digit (0.48)
• The final digit is 8.
• The place value of the 8 is the hundreths position.
5. Put steps 1 - 4 together (36.48).
• The number 36.48 is read as thiry six and forty eight hundredths.