3. Decimal parts Whole numbers have units as their smallest place value. It is possible to keep going to smaller values than units. To show values smaller than units, a decimal point, or dot, is placed after the units. We now want to extend this idea to the right of the units place. Write a period to the right of the units place. This is called the decimal point. Each digit to the right of that decimal point will represent a fraction whose denominator is a power of 10. The first place to the right of the decimal point is the tenths place.
![Whole numbers ,[object Object],Each place to the left of another has a value which is 10 times larger. Each place to the right has a value which is 1/10 of the previous position.](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)