1. Is the BEDMAS rule for the order of operations used with decimals as well as whole numbers?
Yes, the BEDMAS rule applies to just about all areas of mathematics.
2. Why do decimals have to be shortened sometimes?
There are two types of decimals that need shortening.
1. When you do some divisions, such as 2 ÷ 3 the answer comes out as the decimal 0.333333... the three keeps repeating. We can write this to, say, three decimal places as 0.333 or with a dot above the first three to show it is a repeating decimal e.g.
2. If you divide 2 by 7 the answer comes out to 0.28571428....which continues withno pattern. We need to shorten this decimal. It could be written 0.286 to threedecimal places.
Some numbers, called irrational numbers also have decimals of this type. e.g. √3 or π
3. Why do you have to move the decimal point two places to the right when multiplying a decimal by 100?
In actual fact it is not the decimal point that is moving. When you multiply a decimal by 100 each digit in the number becomes 100 times bigger and therefore moves two columns to the left!
