What Are Tenths Definition Examples and How to Solve Problems
What are Tenths?
Sheila loves to collect a list of numbers from 1 to 9. One day, she bought nine containers and started numbering each from 1 to 9. At the bottom of the 9th container, she found something looking like ‘0’. She saw this for the first time and wondered what I could do with ‘0’? Well, she first placed ‘0’ after ‘1’ to make it 10, then after ‘2’ to make it ‘20’. In this way, she kept on making a two-digit number by placing zero after each digit.
Now, we notice that ‘10’ resembles our main topic Tenths, so what are tenths? Well, the definition of tenths says that it is the first digit to the right of the decimal point; one out of 10 equal parts of a whole.
Now, let us understand what tenths are along with certain examples that we will cover on this page.
Examples of Tenths
These are the following values that we know so far:
Ones
Tens
Hundreds
Thousands
Ten-thousands
Hundred-thousands, etc.
Let us say we have a big number and the position of each number is determined by the number of zeroes it has after itself. Assume that the number is 897.625 and find the place value of each digit.
7 is at unit’s place, so 7 * 1 = 7.
9 has a place value of tens, i.e., 10, so 9 * 10 = 90.
8 has a place value of thousands or 1000, so 8 * 1000 = 8000.
Now, there comes another three-digit number after a decimal, which we need to find the place value of. Do you know that there is a difference in finding the place value of the numbers after the decimal? Well, there is! So, let us understand the process.
Please note that the value to the right of the decimal point is always a fraction of a value less than 1. So, the positions of a three-digit number mentioned in the above example are determined by the following position holders:
Tenths
Hundredths
Thousandths
Ten-thousandths
Hundred-thousandths, and so on
Now, let us see for .625
6 has a value of 6/10th
2 has a value of 2/100th
5 has a value of 5/1000th
We notice that the position for tenths is calculated by dividing the digit just after the decimal point by 10.
Now, let us take another example of 778613.962.
7 has a place value of 7 * 100000 = 700,000.
7 has a value of 7 * 10000 = 70,000.
8 has a value of 8 * 1000 = 8,000.
6 has a value of 6 * 100 = 600.
1 has a value of 1 * 10 = 10.
3 has a value of 3.
Similarly, the place value of .962 is calculated as:
9 has a place value of 9/10th (tenth),
6 has a place value of 6/100th, and
2 has a place value of 2/100th.
So, this is how we can determine the tenth place value of a two-digit, three-digit, or four-digit number, and so on. The position of the tenth is 1/10th of the digit just right after the decimal point.
FAQs on Understanding Tenths in Fractions and Decimals
1. What is a tenth in Maths?
A tenth is one part out of ten equal parts of a whole, written as 1/10 or 0.1. In fractions, it means the whole is divided into 10 equal parts and we take one part. In decimals, the digit in the first place to the right of the decimal point represents tenths. For example, in 3.4, the 4 represents 4 tenths.
2. How do you write tenths as a decimal?
To write tenths as a decimal, place the number in the tenths place, which is the first digit to the right of the decimal point. For example:
- 1/10 = 0.1
- 3/10 = 0.3
- 7/10 = 0.7
The denominator 10 tells us the number belongs in the tenths place.
3. How do you convert tenths into a fraction?
To convert tenths into a fraction, write the decimal number over 10 and simplify if needed. For example:
- 0.5 = 5/10 = 1/2
- 0.8 = 8/10 = 4/5
Since tenths are parts out of 10, the denominator is always 10 before simplifying.
4. What is the tenths place in a decimal?
The tenths place is the first digit to the right of the decimal point in a decimal number. In 6.3, the digit 3 is in the tenths place and represents 3/10. Place value charts show that each step to the right of the decimal divides the value by 10.
5. How do you add tenths with examples?
To add tenths, align the decimal points and add the digits in the tenths place. Example:
- 0.4 + 0.3
Step 1: Add tenths → 4 tenths + 3 tenths = 7 tenths.
Step 2: Write the result as 0.7.
So, 0.4 + 0.3 = 0.7.
6. How do you subtract tenths?
To subtract tenths, line up the decimal points and subtract the tenths digits. Example:
- 0.9 − 0.2
Step 1: Subtract 2 tenths from 9 tenths.
Step 2: 9 − 2 = 7 tenths.
So, 0.9 − 0.2 = 0.7.
7. How do you represent tenths on a number line?
Tenths are represented on a number line by dividing each whole number into 10 equal parts. For example, between 0 and 1, each small mark represents:
- 0.1
- 0.2
- 0.3
- ... up to 1.0
This visual model helps in understanding decimal place value and comparing tenths.
8. What is 5 tenths equal to?
Five tenths is equal to 5/10, which simplifies to 1/2, and as a decimal it is 0.5. Since tenths mean parts out of 10, 5 tenths represents half of a whole.
9. What is the difference between tenths and hundredths?
The difference between tenths and hundredths is their place value and size. A tenth (1/10 = 0.1) is larger than a hundredth (1/100 = 0.01).
- Tenths are in the first decimal place.
- Hundredths are in the second decimal place.
- 1 tenth equals 10 hundredths.
This shows how place value affects decimal size.
10. Can you give a solved example of tenths in real life?
A real-life example of tenths is measuring length or money in decimals. Example: A ribbon is 2.6 meters long. The 6 represents 6 tenths of a meter.
- Whole number part = 2 meters
- Decimal part = 0.6 meter = 6/10 meter
Thus, 2.6 meters means 2 whole meters and 6 tenths of a meter.
