Read About Standard Algorithm with Decimals (All 4 Operations)

Adding decimals Emily is on the track team. She runs the first lap in 41.235 seconds, and the second lap in 38.821 seconds. Add to find out how long it took her to run both laps together. Line up the two numbers so that the place values are aligned, and then add one place value at a time, starting with the digits that have the least value. When a sum is 10 or greater, regroup a 1 to the next place value. 41.235 + 38.821 = 80.056 seconds. Now you try: 1.724 + 2.193 = ?

When the numbers have different place values To add 0.07 + 1.384, we still have to line the numbers up by place value. 0.07 doesn’t have a digit in the thousandths place, so it is easiest to start by aligning the decimal points. Now all our place values are aligned, and we add a 0 at the end of 0.07 to make 0.070. That does not change the value but makes the numbers easier to add. 0.07 + 1.384 = 1.454. Now you try: 2.04 + 10.123 = ?

Subtracting decimals You had $80.47. You spent $67.32. Subtract to find how much money you have left. Start by lining up the numbers by place value, with the greater number on top. Then subtract the digits, starting with the place value on the right. When we get to the ones place, there is 0 – 7. Since there are not enough ones to subtract 7 ones, regroup 1 ten as 10 ones. Now we have 10 – 7 = 3. The tens place is now 7 instead of 8. Finally, subtract the tens. The final answer is 13.15, which means you have $13.15 left. Now you try: 21.90 – 15.12 = ?

Multiplying decimals You feed your dog 2.3 cups of food a day, and you need to bring enough food for a 4.5-day trip. Start by multiplying the digits, ignoring the decimal points, using the standard algorithm. 23 × 45 = 1,035. To decide where to put the decimal point, find the total number of decimal places in the original numbers: 2. The decimal point goes two places from the right. The answer is 10.35. Now you try: 1.7 × 1.5 = ?

Dividing decimals You want to divide 3.42 liters of soup into bowls that each hold 0.9 liter. Divide 3.42 by 0.9 to find the number of bowls you can fill. Change the problem into an equivalent problem with a whole number divisor. Multiply the divisor and dividend both by 10 to get 34.2 ÷ 9. Now divide using the standard algorithm for division. 34.2 ÷ 9 = 3.8. You can fill 3 bowls and 0.8 of a fourth bowl. Now you try: 2.24 ÷ 0.4 = ?