What does decimal mean?
Word: Decimal
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Decimal means a number that uses a dot, called a decimal point, to show parts smaller than one, such as 0.5 or 2.75. As an adjective it means based on the number ten.
How do you spell decimal?
Syllables: dec - i - mal
Tricky part: The s sound after de- is spelt with a c, so take care not to write desimal.
Watch out for: desimal, decimmal
Memory tip: Think of the Latin decem, ten, which also gave us December: decimal keeps the same c straight after de-.
Decimal in a sentence
Example 1: Sana wrote one half as the decimal 0.5 on the whiteboard.
Example 2: Our cricket coach gives the run rate as a decimal, such as 6.25 runs an over.
Example 3: Australia changed to decimal coins in 1966, with 100 cents in every dollar.
Fun Fact
Britain changed its money to a decimal system on 15 February 1971; before that a pound was worth 240 pennies, and afterwards it became 100 new pence.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
decim__
a) le
b) ul
c) al
d) el
Show answer
c) al. Decimal finishes with -al, the same ending as in animal and normal.
Word Champ
In which option are the given words arranged in alphabetical order?
1. decimal 2. decide 3. decimetre 4. deciduous
a) 2431
b) 4213
c) 2143
d) 2413
Show answer
d) 2413. Decide comes before deciduous (e before u); decimal comes before decimetre because a comes before e.
Spell Spies
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) perimetre
b) diameter
c) decimal
d) quotient
Show answer
a) perimetre. Even in British English the distance round a shape is a perimeter; the -re spelling belongs only to the unit of length.
Word Tally
You get 3 marks for each correctly spelt word in the list. How many marks will the list get?
numerator, multiplication, decimal, denominater, averige
a) 6
b) 9
c) 15
d) 12
Show answer
b) 9. Denominator has an o before the final r and average has an a after the r, so three words score 3 each.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Chloe's height is 1.42 metres. What does the 4 stand for?
a) four hundredths of a metre
b) four tenths of a metre
c) four whole metres
d) four thousandths of a metre
Show answer
b) four tenths of a metre
2. Which of these is equal to 0.25?
a) one tenth
b) one quarter
c) one half
d) two fifths
Show answer
b) one quarter
