Like and Unlike Decimal Numbers

Decimal numbers are called like decimals if they have the same number of digits after the decimal point.

Example:

• 5.7, 0.8, 329.2, 50.6 (all have one decimal place)

• 26.03, 8.87, 0.52, 400.04 (all have two decimal places)

Decimal numbers are called unlike decimals if they have a different number of digits after the decimal point.

Example:

• 2.6 (1 decimal), 40.32 (2 decimals), 0.009 (3 decimals), 3.0728 (4 decimals), 328.2 (1 decimal)

Step 1: Identify the decimal number with the maximum number of decimal places.
Step 2: Add zeros to the end of the other numbers after the decimal point so all numbers have the same number of decimal places.

Given: 5.8, 239.06, 0.5497

Maximum decimal places: 4 (in 0.5497)

Convert:

• 5.8 → 5.8000
• 239.06 → 239.0600
• 0.5497 → 0.5497

• Like decimals: same number of digits after the decimal.

• Unlike decimals: different numbers of digits after the decimal.

• To make decimals alike, add zeros without changing their actual value.