--- title: "Reading Decimal Places" description: "Identify the value of each digit in numbers given to three decimal places (e.g. in 4.378, the 7 represents 7 hundredths)" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/reading-decimal-places-mt_lNGpnILM5C source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/reading-decimal-places-mt_lNGpnILM5C.md retrieved: 2026-10-19 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Reading Decimal Places Identify the value of each digit in numbers given to three decimal places (e.g. in 4.378, the 7 represents 7 hundredths) Subject: Mathematics · Area: Number Representation & Place Value · Ages 10 to 11 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/reading-decimal-places-mt_lNGpnILM5C ## Ready when they can - State the value of each digit in 2.635 (2 ones, 6 tenths, 3 hundredths, 5 thousandths) - Explain the relationship between adjacent decimal places (each place is ten times smaller) - Write a number given digit values (e.g. 4 ones, 0 tenths, 7 hundredths, 3 thousandths = 4.073) ## Lesson: Reading Decimal Places You already know how to read whole numbers: ones, tens, hundreds. Decimals continue that same pattern, but on the other side of the point. Right after the point comes tenths, then hundredths, then thousandths. *(drawing: In 4.378, count the spots after the point: 3 is tenths, 7 is hundredths, 8 is thousandths.)* **Example.** Look at 2.635. The 2 is ones. The 6 is tenths. The 3 is hundredths. The 5 is thousandths. Each place you move right cuts the value by ten. Tenths divided by ten gives hundredths. Hundredths divided by ten gives thousandths. That order is also how you compare two decimals: read from the left and stop at the first place where the digits differ. 2.5 has 5 tenths and 2.45 has only 4, so 2.5 is the bigger number even though it shows fewer digits. **Example.** To write a number from its digit values: 4 ones, 0 tenths, 7 hundredths, 3 thousandths. Put each digit in its spot: 4.073. Don't forget the 0 as a placeholder for tenths. **Recap.** Count the spots after the point: first is tenths, second is hundredths, third is thousandths, and each one is ten times smaller than the one before. ## Practice 18 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Reading and writing numbers (age 10+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/reading-and-writing-numbers-age-10-mt_Ac7oMWhyPw) - [Thousandths (age 9+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/thousandths-age-9-mt_kdWoAel3Zl) ## Opens up - [Multiplying and dividing (age 10+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/multiplying-and-dividing-age-10-mt_wPgpMJ0-PA)