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Contents of this section

Information about decimals

Importance of decimals
Whole numbers are not enough!
When is a point a decimal point?
History of decimals and the metric measurement system
Decimal money and metric measurement
The evolution of notation for decimals
Decimals as a mathematical system
Can two different decimals be equal?
Mathematical differences between fractions and decimals
Density and completeness
Decimals for measurement, when 12.00 is not the same as 12.0
Rounding numbers and significant figures
 

Children's thinking about decimals

What needs to be understood
The decimal-fraction link
Generalising whole number place value properties
Special properties of decimals
Difficulties for non-English speakers
False or misleading analogies


For information about this page, contact: Vicki Steinle
Contact Email Address: v.steinle@unimelb.edu.au
Department Homepage: www.edfac.unimelb.edu.au/DSME
Faculty Homepage: www.edfac.unimelb.edu.au/
Last modified: Thu 18 November 2004

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