SOLUTION: Hello, How do you know in algebra how many places do you move the decimal? I get confused on when you leave the decimal alone and when you're supposed to move it to how many place

Algebra ->  Decimal-numbers -> SOLUTION: Hello, How do you know in algebra how many places do you move the decimal? I get confused on when you leave the decimal alone and when you're supposed to move it to how many place      Log On


   

Question 269575: Hello, How do you know in algebra how many places do you move the decimal? I get confused on when you leave the decimal alone and when you're supposed to move it to how many places.
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
decimals have nothing to do with algebra, actually
decimals are the basics of how we use our number system
It's called a "place" system because where the number
appears determines it's value.
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Suppose I give you the number 6, but I don't
tell you it appears 3 places to the left of the decimal point
You wouldn't know that it's 600 and not 6
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Suppose I give you the number 6, but I don't
tell you it appears 3 places to the right of the decimal point
You wouldn't know that it's .006 and not 6
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It's a "place" system and the "place holder" is the decimal point