Stage 6 MathsEnglish Member

Won by a Hundredth

Everyday story · Teaches: Decimal place value (tenths, hundredths, thousandths) and comparing decimals · Featuring Tryphonia

At sports day, Tryphonia had an important job: timekeeper (the person who records the times). The 100-metre race was so close the whole crowd gasped.

Two runners crossed the line almost together. The stopwatch showed 12.47 seconds for one and 12.5 seconds for the other. “Who won?” asked Grace.

Tryphonia studied the numbers. “That dot is the decimal point (it separates whole seconds from parts of a second). Just after it comes tenths, then hundredths, then thousandths, each column ten times smaller.”

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This story teaches

Decimal place value (tenths, hundredths, thousandths) and comparing decimals

MathsEnglish

Answer guide, for grown-ups

Ask each question, then compare. A child’s own words are perfect as long as the idea is right.

1. What does each digit after the decimal point stand for?

The first digit after the point is tenths, the second is hundredths and the third is thousandths, each one ten times smaller than the last.

✓ Understood if the child names tenths, hundredths and thousandths in order.

2. Why is 12.47 seconds faster than 12.5 seconds?

The whole numbers are the same, so you compare the tenths: 4 tenths is less than 5 tenths, so 12.47 is the smaller, faster time.

✓ Understood if the child compares the tenths (4 is less than 5) to show 12.47 is smaller.

3. Write 12.5 as hundredths. Is 12.50 the same value?

12.5 written as hundredths is 12.50, and yes, 12.5 and 12.50 are exactly the same value.

✓ Understood if the child gives 12.50 and confirms it is equal to 12.5.

4. Where do you see decimals every day? Think about money and measuring.

For example, prices and money like 2.50, or measuring heights and weights.

✓ Understood if the child gives a real everyday decimal example such as money or measuring.

Maths Moment: Lining up the decimal points and comparing, fastest first: 12.09, 12.47, 12.5, 12.7.

For parents, Cambridge curriculum

Mapped to these Cambridge Primary objectives. Open a framework to verify.

Maths

Stage 6 · Number, Place value
Understand and use decimals to three places; compare and order numbers with up to three decimal places.
Verify in Cambridge Mathematics (0096) ↗

English

Stage 6 · Vocabulary
Understand and use subject-specific vocabulary in context.
Verify in Cambridge English (0058) ↗