Operations with Decimals

Addition and subtraction of decimals is like adding and subtracting whole numbers. The only thing we must remember is to line up the place values correctly. The easiest way to do that is to line up the decimal points.

In this section we will provide a few examples to remind you of the procedure for adding and subtracting decimals. Look at the examples below, and then read through the detailed examples.

Here is an example of adding 12.35 and 5.287. Notice how the decimal points are lined up.
Here is an example of subtracting 2.28 from 12.993. Notice how the decimal points are lined up.

Add the following numbers 1.19 and .16

The answer to this is: 1.19 + .16 = 1.35.

First line the numbers up in a column, lining up the decimal points.
Add down the columns, starting at the right. Notice that 9 + 6 = 15, so we need to carry a 1 to the tenths column.
Continue to add down the columns, moving from right to left.

Subtract 1.387 from 12.17.
The answer to this is: 12.17 - 1.387 = 10.783

First line the numbers up in a column, lining up the decimal points. Since the number 1.387 has three digits after the decimal point, we add a zero on the end of 12.17 so it also has three digits showing past the decimal point.
Subtract down the columns, starting at the right. Notice that in the thousandths column 7 > 0. We must "borrow" from the hundredths column.
When we move to the hundredths column, we notice that 8 > 6. We must "borrow" from the tenths column.
Continue to subtract down the columns, moving from right to left. Again, we need to borrow from the ones place to be able to subtract the tenths.

When multiplying numbers with decimals, we first multiply them as if they were whole numbers. Then, the placement of the number of decimal places in the result is equal to the sum of the number of decimal places of the numbers being multiplied.

For example, if we multiply 2.3 times 4.5, each number has one digit to the right of the decimal, so each has one decimal place. When they are multiplied, the result will have two digits to the right of the decimal, or two decimal places. Now let's look at a detailed example of multiplying two number with decimals.

Multiply 12.3 by 3.54.
The answer is 43.542

When multiplying multi-digit numbers, we start with the digit at the furthest right of the bottom number and multiply that by each of the digits of the top number.
Multiply the second digit from the right of the bottom number by the top. Notice how this second number is offset below the first. Do this for each digit of the bottom number, moving from right to left.
Continue doing this for each digit of the bottom number, moving from right to left. Remember to offset each number as you multiply.
Now add the numbers up going down the columns.
To determine how many digits are to the right of the decimal point in the result, we count the decimal places in the two numbers being multiplied and add these together.

Division with decimals is easier to understand if the divisor (the dividend is divided by the divisor) is a whole number.

If the divisor has a decimal in it, we can make it a whole number by moving the decimal point the appropriate number of places to the right.
However, if you shift the decimal point to the right in the divisor, you must also do this for the dividend.
Once you have moved the decimal point so the divisor is a whole number, you can do the division.

Now let's look at a detailed example of dividing with decimals.

Divide 0.2334 by .004
The answer is 58.35

Place the numbers in the division equation format.
Move the decimal point in both the divisor and dividend three places to the right so that the divisor is a whole number.
Begin the division with 4 into 23 (since 4 cannot go into 2). This gives us 5 with a remainder of 3.
Now bring down the next 3, so we must divide 33 by 4.
Continue on with the division. Notice that you must add a zero on the end of the dividend to finish the division. The decimal point in the result is directly above the decimal point in the dividend.

We have now had a brief review of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with numbers containing decimals. Now try the practice to be sure you understand how to perform these operations with decimals.

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