Mathematics
What is Decimal?
A decimal is a way of writing numbers that aren't whole, using a decimal point to separate the whole part from the fractional part. In 3.75, the '3' is the whole number and the '.75' is the part less than one — based on tenths, hundredths, and so on.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains decimal.
Key things to understand
- 1A decimal point separates the whole-number part from the fraction-of-one part.
- 2Each place after the point is ten times smaller: tenths, hundredths, thousandths.
- 3Decimals are just another way to write fractions with denominators of 10, 100, 1000…
- 4They make it easy to compare and calculate amounts — money uses decimals (₹3.75).
- 50.5 = ½, 0.25 = ¼, 0.75 = ¾ — decimals and fractions are interchangeable.
Frequently asked questions
- What does each digit after the decimal point mean?
- Each place is ten times smaller than the one before: the first is tenths (0.1), the second hundredths (0.01), the third thousandths (0.001), and so on.
- How do you turn a fraction into a decimal?
- Divide the top number by the bottom number. For example, ¾ = 3 ÷ 4 = 0.75.
- Why are decimals useful?
- They make numbers easy to compare, line up, and calculate — which is why money, measurements, and most everyday maths use them.