Representing Decimal Fractions

One of the best ways of improving understanding decimal fractions is to be able to represent them in multiple ways.

1. Real life situations

a. One rupee note is a tenth of the ten rupee note and a hundredths of a hundred rupee note.

b. A ten paise coin is a tenth of a rupee.

c. A twenty five paise is 0.25 of a rupee

2. With manipulatives - FLPs.

a. If a P=1, then 1F, 2L & 3P will represent 123

b. If L=1, then 1F, 2L & 3P will represent 12.3

c. If F=1, then 1F, 2L & 3P will represent 1.23

3. With graph paper

a. If a graph paper is divided into 10X10 and

b. if the entire 10X10 area represents 1, then a 1X10 strip would represent 0.1 & a 1X1 cell would represent 0.01

c. Hence if we shade 3 strips of 1X10 & 5 cells of 1X1, it would represent 0.35

4. With numerals – 3.5 same as 3.50 or 3.500

5. Using number line (with a meter scale)

a. If the meter represents 1, then 15 cm will represent 0.15

b. If a 10cm span represents 1, then 15 cm would represent 1.5