Decimals are a manner of representing numbers. They’ve a complete quantity half and a fractional (or decimal) half, that are separated by a decimal level.
In order that’s the fundamentals lined. However listed below are some lesser identified, and reasonably curious, info about decimals:
1.
The ‘dec’ in decimal means ten, and refers to the truth that every place in a decimal quantity corresponds to 10 occasions greater than the following place alongside. For instance, the quantity 325.31 means 3 tons of, 2 tens, 5 ones, 3 tenths and 1 hundredth. People determined to group in tens as a result of that’s what number of fingers/thumbs we now have. It made counting and arithmetic a complete lot simpler. Three-fingered aliens may effectively group in threes!
2.
Have you ever ever been informed that ‘to multiply by ten, simply add a zero on the finish’? If that’s the case, you’ve been misled! Right here’s an instance: 2.3 x10 shouldn’t be 2.30, it’s 23.0. What’s really taking place if you multiply by ten is that each digit shifts alongside one place to the left as a result of there at the moment are ten occasions as many of every digits. In our instance, there at the moment are 2 tens reasonably than 2 ones.
3.
Some decimal expansions go on without end: for instance, 1/3 = 0.333… the place the ‘…’ implies that the 3s by no means finish.
4.
0.999…. = 1
This may’t be true, certainly? It’s, and we’re going to show it:
Let x = 0.999…
Then 10x = 9.999…
So 9x = 10x – x
= 9.999… – 0.999…
= 9
Which implies x=1.
Right here’s one other solution to persuade your self: strive plotting the worth 0.999… on the quantity line. It must be higher than 0.9, but in addition higher than 0.99, and 0.999 and so forth. You don’t have any house to squeeze it earlier than the 1 which should imply it’s really equal to 1!
5.
Each fraction is a decimal. A fraction is one entire quantity divided by one other (however we will’t divide by zero). Each fraction, small or giant, constructive or adverse, could be written as a decimal. For instance, 1/2 = 0.5, 1/3 = 0.333… and 1/7 = 0.142857142857… – the place the ‘142857’ repeats without end!
6.
However not each decimal is a fraction. Some numbers are so unusual that they will’t be expressed as a fraction. The quantity π, for instance, which we use to calculate circle measurements, has a decimal growth that goes on without end and by no means repeats (it begins 3.14159). It can’t be written as a fraction.
7.
Completely different international locations and languages use completely different notation for the decimal level. For instance, in Taiwan and Singapore the purpose is positioned is positioned mid-line, so 23·89 reasonably than 23.89. In lots of European international locations, a comma is used as an alternative: 23,89. Horses for programs!
8.
Decimals are utilized in a spread of real-world conditions to signify completely different quantities. Cash, weight and top all use decimal factors. So does the Richter scale, which measures the power of an earthquake.
