Decimal Number Recognition: Finding the Value Equal to 0.5

Q: Why is 0.50 the same as 0.5?

The zero in the hundredths place is a trailing zero - it doesn't add any value! Think of it like writing 5.0 instead of 5. Both mean exactly the same amount.

Q: How do I compare decimals with different numbers of digits?

Add zeros to make them the same length, then compare digit by digit from left to right. For example: $ 0.5 = 0.50 $ vs $ 0.55 $.

Q: What's the difference between 0.5 and 0.05?

The position matters! In 0.5, the 5 is in the tenths place. In 0.05, the 5 is in the hundredths place, making it much smaller.

Q: How do I avoid confusing 0.5 and 0.05?

Read the place value carefully! 0.5 has 5 in the tenths place (one digit after decimal). 0.05 has 0 in tenths and 5 in hundredths (two digits after decimal).

Decimal Equivalence with Trailing Zeros

Determine which of the following numbers is equal to $0.5$ :

❤️ Continue Your Math Journey!

We have hundreds of course questions with personalized recommendations + Account 100% premium

Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:04 First, choose the number that matches the given number.

00:08 Next, let's compare the digits of the numbers, one by one.

00:13 We see that these numbers are equal!

00:16 Now, let's check the next number in the same way.

00:20 Remember, you can always add a zero to the rightmost digit.

00:24 Here, the digit 5 is greater than zero, so this number is larger.

00:29 Let's examine the next number using the same steps.

00:33 This time, the digit zero is less than 5, so the number is smaller.

00:38 Let's continue with another number using our method.

00:42 Here, the digit 5 is greater than zero, making the number larger.

00:48 And that's how we solve this problem!

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

Determine which of the following numbers is equal to $0.5$ :

Step-by-step solution

In order to determine the correct answer, let's first add 0 to the number as follows:

$0.5=0.50$

Observe the answers:

0.50 - Both numbers are identical to each other, hence this is the correct answer.

0.505 - Let's add 0 to our number and compare 0.500 to 0.505. Given that the thousandths digit is 5 and in our number it's 0, the numbers are not identical, this is not the correct answer.

0.05 - Due to the fact that the tenths digit and hundredths digit are different from each other, meaning 0 and 5 versus 5 and 0, this is not the correct answer.

0.55 - Since the hundredths digit is 5 and in our number it's 0, the numbers are not identical, this is not the correct answer.

Final Answer

$0.50$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Trailing zeros after decimal point don't change value
Technique: Compare digit by digit: 0.5 = 0.50 same positions
Check: Add zeros to match decimal places: 0.500 vs 0.505 shows difference ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Thinking more digits means different value
Don't assume 0.50 is different from 0.5 because it has more digits = wrong answer! Extra zeros after the decimal don't change the value, just like 5.0 = 5. Always remember trailing zeros are placeholders that keep the same value.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Are they the same numbers?

$0.1\stackrel{?}{=}0.10$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why is 0.50 the same as 0.5?

The zero in the hundredths place is a trailing zero - it doesn't add any value! Think of it like writing 5.0 instead of 5. Both mean exactly the same amount.

How do I compare decimals with different numbers of digits?

Add zeros to make them the same length, then compare digit by digit from left to right. For example: $0.5 = 0.50$ vs $0.55$ .

What's the difference between 0.5 and 0.05?

The position matters! In 0.5, the 5 is in the tenths place. In 0.05, the 5 is in the hundredths place, making it much smaller.

Can I just ignore trailing zeros in decimals?

Yes! Trailing zeros after the decimal point can be removed without changing the value. $0.50 = 0.5 = 0.500$ - they're all equal.

How do I avoid confusing 0.5 and 0.05?

Read the place value carefully! 0.5 has 5 in the tenths place (one digit after decimal). 0.05 has 0 in tenths and 5 in hundredths (two digits after decimal).

🌟 Unlock Your Math Potential

Get unlimited access to all 18 Decimal Fractions - Basic questions, detailed video solutions, and personalized progress tracking.

📹

Unlimited Video Solutions

Step-by-step explanations for every problem

📊

Progress Analytics

Track your mastery across all topics

🚫

Ad-Free Learning

Focus on math without distractions

No credit card required • Cancel anytime