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 $0.5$ :

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:00 Choose the number equal to the given number

00:03 Let's compare the digits of the numbers

00:09 We can see that the numbers are equal

00:12 Let's check the next number using the same method

00:15 We can always add 0 on the right side of the last digit

00:18 The digit 5 is greater than 0, therefore the number is larger

00:22 Let's check the next number using the same method

00:27 The digit 0 is less than 5, therefore the number is smaller

00:31 Let's check the next number using the same method

00:36 The digit 5 is greater than 0, therefore the number is larger

00:41 And this is the solution to the question

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

Which decimal number is greater?

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).

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