You are using the online sample of the Teaching and Learning about Decimals CD-ROM. Not all linked pages are accessible in this version. For further information about the complete CD-ROM please click here.

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
References and Research
Articles by the authors and others regarding research on learning and teaching about decimals.
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
Faculty Homepage: http://www.edfac.unimelb.edu.au/sme/
Last modified: Sun 16 April 2006

This page, its contents and style, are the responsibility of the author and
do not represent the views, policies or opinions of The University of Melbourne.