How to add decimals - WTSkills- Learn Maths, Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning

In this post we will learn how to add two or more decimals.
First we will understand the addition rules and then learn addition with the help of examples.
At the end of the post, questions related the concept is also given for your practice.

Note that the concept developed is asper the standard of Saxon Math which is usually referred in the schools of USA and Canada

Adding Decimals

In order to add two or more decimals, you have to do the following steps:

(a) Place Value after decimals
Make sure all the numbers have same place value after decimals.
This can be done by adding zeros after the decimal points

(b) Arrange numbers vertically
Number are vertically arranged such that the digits with the same place values are in the same line

(c) Start adding numbers line by line
This process is straight forward as you just have to add numbers vertically

These are the three basic steps.
Let us now understand the process with examples.

Example 01
Add 572.21 and 29.631

(a) Place Value after Decimals
Make sure that all the number have same place value after decimal.

For the given number you can observe that:
572.21 ⟹ has two place value after decimal
29.631 ⟹ has three place value after decimal

So we added zero at the end of 572.21 to make the place value number equal

(b) Vertical Arrangement
Arrange numbers vertically such that number with same place value are in same line
Now start adding the numbers from right to left

Hence, 601.841 is the final solution

Example 02
Add 7023.251 and 431.6

(a) Place Value After Decimal
Make sure all the number have same place values after decimal

7023.51 ⟹ has two place values
431.6 ⟹ has one place value

So we add zero to 431.6 so that place values of both numbers get equal

(b) Vertical Arrangement
Arrange numbers vertically such that number with sample place values are in same line
Adding numbers from right to left

Hence, 7455.11 is the solution

Let us solve some advance questions in which three numbers are added.

Example 03
Add 45.25, 527.631, 22.49

Solution
(a) Place Values of Decimals

45.25 ⟹ has two decimal places
527.631 ⟹ has three decimal places
22.49 ⟹ has two decimal places

Add zero at the end of 45.25 & 22.49

Method to add two or more decimal number

(b) Vertical Arrangement
Arrange number vertically and start adding number from right to left

Hence, 595.371 is the solution

Example 04
Add the numbers ⟹ 19.071; 6.3; 502.11

Solution
(a) Place Values of Decimals

19.071 ⟹ has three decimal places
6.3 ⟹ has one decimal places
502.11 ⟹ has two decimal place

Make sure all the number have three decimal place
Insert two zero at 6.3
Insert one zero at 502.11

(b) Add numbers from right end

Hence, 527.481 is the solution

Example 05
All the three numbers
⟹ 953.75; 201.361; 5.65

(a) Decimal Place Values Arrangement

953.75 ⟹ has two decimal place values
201.361⟹ has three decimal place values
5.65 ⟹ has two decimal place values

So we add one zero to 953.75 & 5.65, so that all numbers have same decimal place values.

(b) Add numbers from right to left

1160.761 is the solution

Decimal Addition Worksheet

In the below post, decimals numbers are given in each question.

You have to do the addition and select the right answer among the given options.
You can also refer to the answer explanation given with each question

(01) Add the below decimals
⟹ 6.75 + 3.125

(a) 9.765
(b) 9.875
(c) 7.875
(d) 7.765

Read Solution

Solution