How to use this sheet

  • For adding and subtracting, have the child line up the decimal points first and fill empty places with zeros.
  • Estimate first with whole numbers: 4.8 × 3 is about 5 × 3.
  • For dividing by a decimal, have the child move the point in both numbers by the same amount and say why.

Common mistakes

  • Lining up the digits on the right instead of the decimal points, so 3.5 + 1.25 is added wrongly. Line up the points.
  • In multiplying, lining up the decimal points as in adding. Multiply as whole numbers, then count the decimal places.
  • Putting the point in the wrong place in a quotient. Check the answer against the estimate.

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