To align decimal points in a decimal addition problem, annex

Question

zeros to write
so that all addends
have the same number of decimal places.

Answer 1

To align decimal points in a decimal addition problem, follow these steps:

1. Identify the numbers: Look at the numbers you want to add together. For example, consider the numbers 3.2, 4.56, and 1.789.

2. Determine the maximum number of decimal places: Check how many decimal places each number has. In this case:

   • 3.2 has 1 decimal place.
   • 4.56 has 2 decimal places.
   • 1.789 has 3 decimal places.

   The maximum number of decimal places is 3 (from 1.789).

3. Annex zeros as needed: Adjust each number so that they all have the same number of decimal places (in this case, 3):

   • 3.2 becomes 3.200
   • 4.56 becomes 4.560
   • 1.789 remains 1.789

4. Align the decimal points: Write the numbers down with their decimal points aligned:

     3.200
   + 4.560
   + 1.789
   

5. Perform the addition: Now you can add the numbers as normal:

               3.200
           +   4.560
           +   1.789
           ______________
               9.549
   

Thus, the sum of 3.2, 4.56, and 1.789 is 9.549.