Equivalent Decimal Fractions

Equivalent decimal fractions are unlike fractions which are equal in value.

Let us take a plane sheet which represents one whole. Now, we divide the sheet into 10 equal parts.

$Equivalent Decimals$

The colored part in the above figure represents two-tenths of the whole or 0.2.

We now further divide the part into 10 equal parts. There are now 100 equal parts.

$Equivalent Decimal Fractions$

The colored part in figure B represents the fraction $\frac{20}{100}$ or 0.02. Same way, if we divide further there will be 1000 equal parts and the colored part will represent $\frac{200}{1000}$ or 0.200. The decimals 0.2, 0.20 and 0.200 are equivalent decimals. So, placing any number of zeroes to the right of the decimal part does not change its value.

Let us consider the following examples:

(i) 0.4, 0.40, 0.400, 0.4000

Each of the above is equal to 0.4 or 4/10.

(ii) 1.9, 1.90, 1.900, 1.9000

Each of the above is equal to 1.9 or 19/10.

(iii) 10.14, 10.140, 10.1400, 10.14000

Each of the above is equal to 10.14 or 1014/100.

(iv) 0.94, 0.940, 0.9400, 0.94000

Each of the above is equal to 0.94 or 94/100.

(v) 9.1, 9.10, 9.100, 9.1000

Each of the above is equal to 9.1 or 91/10.

(vi) 60.49, 60.4900, 60.490

Each of the above is equal to 60.49 or 6049/100.

Similarly, we have

0.300 = 0.30 = 0.3

0.700 = 0.70 = 0.7

0.200 = 0.20 = 0.2

Thus, by adding any number of zeros after the extreme right digit in the decimal part of a decimal number does not change the value of the number.

Numbers obtained by inserting zeros after the extreme right digit in the decimal part of a decimal number are known as equivalent decimals.

Hence, 0.75, 0.750, 0.7500 etc are equivalent decimals.