Decimal Place Value | Student Worksheet

The Big Idea

Decimal place value extends to the right of the decimal point: tenths, hundredths, and thousandths.

Each place is 10 times smaller than the place to its left.

Notice the pattern: places to the RIGHT of the decimal end in "-ths" (tenths, hundredths, thousandths)!

Example 1: Understanding the Place Value Chart

The number 54.382

Each digit has a different VALUE based on its position:
5 = 50 (five tens) | 4 = 4 (four ones) | 3 = 0.3 (three tenths) | 8 = 0.08 (eight hundredths) | 2 = 0.002 (two thousandths)

Example 2: Reading and Writing Decimals

Standard Form: 54.382

Word Form: fifty-four and three hundred eighty-two thousandths

Read the whole number part normally: "fifty-four"

Say "and" for the decimal point

Read the decimal part as a whole number, then say the place value of the LAST digit: "three hundred eighty-two thousandths"

Example 3: Expanded Form

54.382 = 50 + 4 + 0.3 + 0.08 + 0.002

54.382 = (5 x 10) + (4 x 1) + (3 x 0.1) + (8 x 0.01) + (2 x 0.001)

Each digit is multiplied by its place value!
Tenths = 0.1 | Hundredths = 0.01 | Thousandths = 0.001

TRAP ALERT: Don't Mix Up Place Value Names!

WRONG: Students confuse "thousands" (1,000) with "thousandths" (0.001). Remember: places to the RIGHT of the decimal have "-ths"!

RIGHT: Tenths (0.1), Hundredths (0.01), Thousandths (0.001) are all LESS than 1. They are parts of a whole!

Your Turn: Practice Place Value

1. In the number 7.345, what is the value of the digit 4?

The 4 is in the place.

Its value is

2. Write 23.506 in word form:

3. Write 8.241 in expanded form:

+ + +

4. Write in standard form: "nine and forty-seven hundredths"

Standard form:

Remember!

The decimal point separates whole numbers from parts of a whole
Tenths = first place after decimal (0.1)
Hundredths = second place after decimal (0.01)
Thousandths = third place after decimal (0.001)
Moving a digit LEFT makes it 10 times greater
Moving a digit RIGHT makes it 10 times smaller