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# Like and Unlike Decimals

Before going to the concept of like and unlike decimals, let us see about decimals first. A fraction whose denominator is 10 or some positive integral power of 10 is called a decimal fraction.
For example: $\frac{8}{10}$ = 0.8 , $\frac{84}{100}$ = 0.84 are some decimal fractions.

We can write these fractions as :

0.3, 0.47, 2.36, 1.243.

The numbers written in decimal form are called decimal numbers or simply decimals. Each of the numbers 0.3, 0.47, 2.36, 1.243 is a decimal.

A decimal has two parts:Whole number part and decimal part.

These parts are separated by a dot (.) called the decimal point.

The whole number is to the left of the decimal point and the decimal part is to its right. Example: In 432.15, the whole part is 432 and decimal part is .15.

Decimal places: The number of digits contained in the decimal part of a decimal gives the number of its decimal places. Example: 7.34 have 2 decimal places. 2.768 have 3 decimal places.

Lets learn about the like and unlike decimals and their conversion.

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## Definition

Like decimals: Decimals having same number of decimal places are called like decimals. Ex: 2.67, 5.94, 3.24, 7.80 are like decimals, each having 2 decimal places.

Unlike decimals: Some given decimals, all not having same number of decimal places are called unlike decimals.

Ex 16.78, 9.876, 0.4 are unlike decimals.

## Steps to Convert Unlike to Like Decimals

• First determine the number of decimal places in each decimal number
• We take the number with the greatest number of decimal places.
• We make the other decimal numbers with the same number of decimal places by adding extra zeros to the right of the last number till we get to the greatest number of decimal places .

## Examples

Below you could see examples of like and unlike decimals

### Solved Examples

Question 1: Convert 16.78, 9.876 and 0.4 to like decimals.
Solution:

• The number of decimal places in each of these is

16.78 has 2 decimal places

9.876 has 3 decimal places

0.4 has 1 decimal place

• The highest number of decimals is 3
• We have to make 16.78 and 0.4 to have 3 places of decimals.

16.78 has 2 places, we add one 0 after 8. 16.78 will become 16.780.

0.4 has 1 decimal place, we add two 0’s after 4. 0.4 will become 0.400

16.780, 9.876 and 0.400 are like decimals.

Question 2: Convert 8.96, 4 and 2.6314 to like decimals.
Solution:

• The number of decimal places in each of these is

8.96 has 2 decimal places

4 has 0 decimal places

2.6314 has 4 decimal place

• The highest number of decimals is 4
• We have to make 8.96 and 4 to 4 places of decimals.

8.96 has 2 places, we add two 0’s after 96. 8.96 will become 8.9600

4 has no decimal place, we add four 0’s after 4,then 4 will become 4.0000

8.9600, 4.0000 and 2.6314 are like decimals.

Question 3: Convert 56.9 , 5.63 and 0.3 to like decimals.
Solution:

• The number of decimal places in each of these is

56.9 has 1 decimal places

5.63 has 2 decimal places

0.3 has 1 decimal place

• The highest number of decimals is 2
• We have to make 56.9 and 0.3 to 2 places of decimals.

56.9 has 1 places, we add one 0 after 9. 56.9 will become 56.90.

0.3 has 1 decimal place, we add one 0’s after 3. 0.3 will become 0.30

56.90, 0.30 and 5.63 are like decimals.

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