Place Value with Decimals (Thousandths) • Topic 1 of 3

Reading & Writing Decimals to 3 Places

What is a Decimal?

A decimal is a way to show numbers less than 1 using a decimal point (•). The decimal point separates whole numbers from parts of a whole.

Place Value Chart:

HundredsTensOnes•TenthsHundredthsThousandths
100101•1/101/1001/1000
003•425

Reading Decimals:

  • 0.425 = "four hundred twenty-five thousandths"
  • 3.7 = "three and seven tenths"
  • 5.082 = "five and eighty-two thousandths"

Writing Decimals:

  • "Six and fifteen hundredths" = 6.15
  • "Two hundred thirty-four thousandths" = 0.234
DECIMAL PLACE VALUE CHART:

    ┌────┬────┬────┬───┬────┬─────┬──────┐
    │ H │ T │ O │ • │ t │ h │ th │
    ├────┼────┼────┼───┼────┼─────┼──────┤
    │100 │10  │1   │ • │1/10│1/100│1/1000│
    ├────┼────┼────┼───┼────┼─────┼──────┤
    │ 4  │ 2  │ 7  │ • │ 3  │ 6   │ 9    │
    └────┴────┴────┴───┴────┴─────┴──────┘
    
    4 2 7 . 3 6 9 = Four hundred twenty-seven AND three hundred sixty-nine thousandths

VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF 0.425:

    WHOLE SQUARE (1.00)
    ┌─────────────────┐
    │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ 42.5% shaded
    │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│ = 0.425
    │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│
    │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░│
    │░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░  │
    └─────────────────┘
    
    4 tenths (0.4) + 2 hundredths (0.02) + 5 thousandths (0.005) = 0.425
Solved Examples
1
Worked Example

Write the decimal: 3 tenths + 4 hundredths + 7 thousandths

Solution
  • 3 tenths = 0.3
  • 4 hundredths = 0.04
  • 7 thousandths = 0.007
  • Add: 0.3 + 0.04 + 0.007 = 0.347
2
Worked Example

Read the decimal: 25.406

Solution
  • Whole number part: 25 = "twenty-five"
  • Decimal part: 406 thousandths
  • Complete: "Twenty-five and four hundred six thousandths"
3
Worked Example

Write as decimal: "Eight and fifteen thousandths"

Solution
  • "Eight" = 8
  • "fifteen thousandths" = 0.015
  • Complete: 8.015 (not 8.15, which is fifteen hundredths!)

Key Points

  • Decimal point separates whole from part
  • First place after decimal = tenths (1/10)
  • Second place = hundredths (1/100)
  • Third place = thousandths (1/1000)
  • Always say "and" for the decimal point when reading
  • 0.235 = two hundred thirty-five thousandths
Quick Check — 4 MCQs
Tap an option to check your answer0 / 4
Q1.The first place after the decimal point is the:
Explanation: Tenths.
Q2.The third place after the decimal point is the:
Explanation: Thousandths.
Q3.$0.5$ is read as:
Explanation: Five tenths.
Q4.In $0.305$, the digit $3$ is in the:
Explanation: Tenths.
Practice more MCQs → 📝 Assignment · 35 marks