Decimal operations

What they’re learning

Your child is adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing decimals in practical contexts. Place value and estimation are essential for checking decimal placement.

Explain it to my child

Before calculating, estimate. If 3.8 × 4.2 is about 4 × 4 = 16, an answer like 1.596 cannot be right.

Try it together

Use prices, distances, or recipe measurements. Estimate first, calculate exactly, then explain why the decimal position makes sense.

Practice

1. 4.7 + 8.36 = ?
2. 12.5 - 3.78 = ?
3. 2.4 × 3 = ?
4. 9.6 ÷ 4 = ?
5. Estimate 5.98 × 2.1.

Check understanding

• Can your child estimate before operating with decimals?
• Can they explain decimal placement using magnitude rather than a memorized rule alone?