How to read DECIMAL numbers

In this lesson from a teacher we will see how decimal numbers are readIn other words, we are going to focus on how to go from the numerical expression of quantities to the written expression without numbers. In a previous lesson we had done the opposite process, so you can review the two lessons at the same time, since they are complementary.

That said, we will start by reminding you what decimal numbers are, briefly tell you about their structure and we will facilitate examples and results with tables so you can clearly see how decimal numbers are read or written.

Before entering fully into the subject, it seems important to us that you remember that a decimal numberis that number that is divided into three parts:

• whole part (number)
• the sign that divides the integer part of the decimal (usually a period or a comma is used)
• and finally, the decimal part

Also, remind you that the decimal part can be expressed in: tenths, cents, thousandths, ten thousandths, hundred thousandths and millionths; being the first three the most common when expressing a decimal number.

As you recall, the integer part of this number is on the left side of the comma (or point), then just the comma and then to its right, the decimal part of the number in question.

There are some ways to read decimal numbers. For example, we can read the number 4,5 in these ways:

• four point five
• four with five
• four integers, 5 tenths

In the video we will practice especially the last of the forms since it is the one that is usually requested in the school and the one that presents the most difficulties. For this, it is very important that you know this box:

So that you better understand the lesson at hand, here we are going to give you examples of decimal numbers that will help you improve your knowledge about this topic.

A) In the first example of the table we see that the decimal number is 3.5. Well, as Professor Cristina explains in the video for this lesson, there are three ways to express this number:

• Three point five
• Three with five
• Three integers, five tenths

These three ways are correct and valid; It will also depend on what they ask you for in the specific exercise. Let's see the second example of the table.

B) In the second case of the table, which is the number 14.36, there are also three ways to express said quantity:

• Fourteen point thirty six
• Fourteen thirty six
• Fourteen integers and thirty-six hundredths.

As you can see, for the third option, the table is very useful; as it helps you to know at what decimal level the number is. Likewise, we recommend that you practice especially the expression that includes the name of the decimal places, because it is more complicated And the school evaluations will surely focus on that, since it is the cheapest way to express a decimal number.

C) In the third example the number is 8,258. Similarly, there are three ways to express it as any decimal number.

• Eight point two hundred fifty eight
• Eight Two Hundred Fifty Eight
• Eight integers and two hundred fifty-eight thousandths

Having seen these examples, with the support of the table, we are going to leave you a few exercises so that you can gain fluency when writing a decimal number. Remember to focus on the academic form, which is the third option we have used in these examples.

We will end this lesson with training of decimal numbers that will allow you to test the knowledge you have obtained throughout this lesson. You have to solve these exercises (you will find the solutions in the next section):

• A) 45.32
• B) 74,425
• C) 7.2
• D) 325.4283
• E) 0.23456

To solve these exercises that we have left you in the previous section, we are going to use a table to make it easier for you to see where the correct answer is coming from.

Likewise, in the answers we are going to write the three correct ways to express a decimal number, as we have done in the practical examples section.

Exercise solution A

• Option 1: forty-five point thirty-two
• Option 2: forty-five thirty-two
• Option 3: forty-five integers, thirty-two hundredths

Exercise B solution

• Option 1: seventy-four point four hundred twenty-five
• Option 2: seventy-four four hundred twenty-five
• Option 3: seventy-four integers, four hundred twenty-five thousandths

Exercise C solution

• Option 1: seven point two
• Option 2: sit with two
• Option 3: seven integers, two tenths

Exercise D solution

• Option 1: three hundred twenty-five point four thousand two hundred eighty-three
• Option 2: three hundred twenty-five and four thousand two hundred eighty-three
• Option 3: three hundred twenty-five integers, four thousand two hundred eighty-three ten thousandths

Exercise solution E

• Option 1: zero point twenty three thousand four hundred fifty six
• Option 2: zero twenty-three thousand four hundred fifty-six
• Option 2: twenty-three thousand four hundred fifty-six hundred thousandths