Place Value Analysis: Determining the Position in 5.1

Q: Why is 5.1 not fifty-one?

The decimal point changes everything! 5.1 means 5 ones plus 1 tenth, which equals $ 5\frac{1}{10} $. Without the decimal, 51 would be fifty-one whole units.

Q: Can I write 5.1 as a fraction?

Yes! 5.1 equals $ 5\frac{1}{10} $ as a mixed number, or $ \frac{51}{10} $ as an improper fraction.

Q: Is there a trick to avoid confusing place values?

Always start from the decimal point! Count positions: first right = tenths, second right = hundredths. Going left: first = ones, second = tens, third = hundreds.

Place Value with Decimal Numbers

Determine the place value of 5.1

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Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

Determine the place value of 5.1

Step-by-step solution

To determine the place value of the digits in the decimal number 5.1, follow these steps:

Step 1: Identify the digit to the left of the decimal point. In 5.1, it is the digit '5', which is in the 'ones' place. This means it represents five ones or simply $5$ .
Step 2: Identify the digit to the right of the decimal point. In 5.1, it is the digit '1', which is in the 'tenths' place. This means it represents one-tenth or $\frac{1}{10}$ .
Step 3: Combine these interpretations to express the number in words.

The number 5.1 can be written as "five ones and one tenth".

Therefore, the place value interpretation for 5.1 is "five ones and one tenth".

Final Answer

Five ones and one tenth

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Digits left of decimal are whole numbers, right are fractions
Technique: In 5.1, the 5 is ones place, 1 is tenths place
Check: Convert back: 5 ones + 1 tenth = 5 + 0.1 = 5.1 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Reading decimal numbers as whole numbers
Don't read 5.1 as 'fifty-one' = completely wrong value! This ignores the decimal point and makes the number 50 times larger. Always identify the decimal point first and read each digit's position separately.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Determine the numerical value of the shaded area:

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why is 5.1 not fifty-one?

The decimal point changes everything! 5.1 means 5 ones plus 1 tenth, which equals $5\frac{1}{10}$ . Without the decimal, 51 would be fifty-one whole units.

How do I remember the place values after the decimal?

Think of it like money! The first place after the decimal is tenths (like dimes), then hundredths (like pennies), then thousandths, and so on.

Can I write 5.1 as a fraction?

Yes! 5.1 equals $5\frac{1}{10}$ as a mixed number, or $\frac{51}{10}$ as an improper fraction.

What if there are more digits after the decimal?

Each position moves one place further: tenths, hundredths, thousandths, etc. For example, in 5.123, you have 1 tenth + 2 hundredths + 3 thousandths.

Is there a trick to avoid confusing place values?

Always start from the decimal point! Count positions: first right = tenths, second right = hundredths. Going left: first = ones, second = tens, third = hundreds.

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