A decimal is a number with a decimal point and it includes a whole number part and a decimal part. 1.2, 1.8, 3.425 are examples of decimals.

Consider the following blocks, each of which is divided into 10 equal parts. Each one of these parts represents $\frac{1}{10}$ of the whole unit, the whole block.

10 parts of Block 1 and 2 parts of Block 2 are shaded in red. In other words, 10 out of 10 parts are shaded in Block 1 and 2 out of 10 parts are shaded in Block 2. This is represented as 1.2 in decimal form, which means one whole and two-tenths of a whole. This can be written as 1.2 = 1 + $\frac{2}{10}$

## What is a Decimal?

A decimal number is a representation of a fraction and vice versa. Consider the number line. The unit length between 1 and 2 is divided into 10 equal parts. We take 8 parts as shown in the following figure.

This point represents eight tenth more than one. We represent this as a decimal number, 1.8.
Here, 1.8 can be written as 1 + eight tenth
That is, 1.8 = 1 + $\frac{8}{10}$
We can see that a decimal number is a representation of a fraction and vice versa.

### Examples on Decimals

Given below are some examples on decimals

Example 1:

3.245 is a decimal number where 3 is the whole number and 0.245 is the decimal part.
We can write 3.245 = 3 + two tenths + 4 hundredths + 5 thousandths

Example 2:

51. 9807 is a decimal number, where 51 represents the whole part and 0.9807 the decimal part.
51. 9807 = 51 + 9 tenths + 8 hundredths + 0 thousandths + 7 ten-thousandths
= 51 + 9 tenths + 8 hundredths + 7 ten- thousandths
If there is no whole number part, we write a 0 to the left of the decimal point. In the decimal number, 0. 234, there is no whole number part.

Example 3:

Write the fraction and decimal number representing the following figure.

Here, a box is made of 10 equal parts and 7 of them are shaded in blue. We can represent this as $\frac{7}{10}$ as a fraction and 0.7 as the decimal point.

### Fractions

 Scientific Notation Value of Pi Decimal to Binary Decimal to Hexadecimal Decimal Place Value Convert Decimal to Fraction Dividing Decimals Multiplying Decimals Step Function Decimal places Decimal Representation
 Dividing a Decimal by a Decimal Multiply Decimals by Decimals Decimal Place Fraction to Decimal From Decimal to Binary Binary Number to Decimal Comparing Decimal Numbers Conversion Chart Decimals to Fractions Conversion from Decimal to Hexadecimal Even Number Is the Number 1 a Prime Number Number of Factors of a Number
 Decimals Calculator Dividing Decimals Calculator Decimal to Fraction