Zoom in past the decimal point to find tiny values!
Decimals extend our place value system to the right of the decimal point. Each place is 10 times smaller than the one to its left. After the ones place, we have tenths, hundredths, and thousandths.
Place Value Chart
The decimal point is read as "and."
Compare 0.45 and 0.450: They are equal! Trailing zeros after the last significant digit do not change a decimal's value. But 0.45 > 0.045 because 4 tenths > 0 tenths.
Each place to the right is ÷10 smaller. Each place to the left is ×10 larger.
Remember This!
Line up decimal points when comparing or computing. The decimal point is the anchor of the whole number system.
What is the value of the digit 7 in the number 3.074?