Decimals

Question 1

Decimal places

Answer 1

The position of a digit to the right of a decimal point.

Question 2

Decimal

Answer 2

Where the number of tenths, hundredth, thousandths etc. are represented as digits following a decimal point.

The decimal point is placed at the right of the units column. Each column after the decimal point is a decimal place.

Example: The decimal fraction 0.275 is said to have three decimal places.

Question 3

Digit

Answer 3

Most commonly the symbols 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

Examples: the number 29 is a 2-digit number; there are three digits in 2.95.

Question 4

Significant figures

Answer 4

The run of digits in a number that are needed to specify the number to a required degree of accuracy. Additional zero digits may also be needed to indicate the number’s magnitude. Examples: To the nearest thousand, the numbers 125 000, 2 376 000 and 22 000 have 3, 4 and 2 significant figures respectively; to 3 significant figures 98.765 is written 98.8

Question 5

Round

Answer 5

In the context of a number, express to a required degree of accuracy. Example: 543 rounded to the nearest 10 is 540.