Hundredths - Definition, Examples, Quiz, FAQ, Trivia
Learn about hundredths in decimals and fractions with visual examples and practice activities
What is a Hundredth?
A hundredth is one part of something that has been divided into 100 equal parts. It's written as 1/100 in fraction form and as 0.01 in decimal form.
Think of it like a dollar bill. One penny is one hundredth of a dollar because there are 100 pennies in one dollar. Or imagine a centimeter ruler - each millimeter is one tenth of a centimeter, and each tenth of a millimeter would be one hundredth of a centimeter.
Hundredths help us measure and describe things very precisely. We use them in money, measurements, and many other areas of math and daily life.
Key Concept
One hundredth = 1/100 = 0.01. This means we've divided one whole into 100 equal pieces and taken just one of those pieces.
Hundredths Place Value
In our decimal number system, each digit has a specific place value. The hundredths place is the second digit to the right of the decimal point.
Let's look at a place value chart:
| Ones | Decimal Point | Tenths | Hundredths | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | . | 0 | 1 | 1.01 (one and one hundredth) |
| 0 | . | 2 | 5 | 0.25 (twenty-five hundredths) |
| 3 | . | 7 | 8 | 3.78 (three and seventy-eight hundredths) |
The digit in the hundredths place tells us how many hundredths we have. For example, in the number 0.36:
- The 3 is in the tenths place, meaning 3 tenths (3/10 or 0.3)
- The 6 is in the hundredths place, meaning 6 hundredths (6/100 or 0.06)
Together, 0.36 means 3 tenths and 6 hundredths, which is the same as 36 hundredths.
Remember
The hundredths place is always the second digit after the decimal point. It's 100 times smaller than the ones place.
Hundredths as Decimals
Decimals are another way to write fractions. When we write hundredths as decimals, we use two digits after the decimal point.
For example:
- 5/100 = 0.05 (five hundredths)
- 23/100 = 0.23 (twenty-three hundredths)
- 70/100 = 0.70 (seventy hundredths, which is the same as 0.7 or seven tenths)
Let's visualize 0.25 (twenty-five hundredths):
Notice that 25 hundredths is the same as 1/4. This shows how fractions and decimals are related.
We can convert between fractions and decimals:
- To convert a fraction with 100 as the denominator to a decimal, write the numerator with a decimal point two places from the right.
- To convert a decimal with two places to a fraction, write the number (without the decimal) as the numerator and 100 as the denominator.
Conversion
For example: 37 hundredths = 37/100 = 0.37
Examples and Practice
Let's look at some examples of hundredths in real life:
Money: There are 100 cents in 1 dollar. So 1 cent is $0.01 (one hundredth of a dollar). 25 cents is $0.25 (twenty-five hundredths of a dollar).
Measurements: There are 100 centimeters in 1 meter. So 1 centimeter is 0.01 meters (one hundredth of a meter). 35 centimeters is 0.35 meters (thirty-five hundredths of a meter).
Time: There are 100 years in a century. So 1 year is 0.01 centuries (one hundredth of a century).
Now let's practice converting:
| Fraction | Decimal | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 7/100 | 0.07 | Seven hundredths |
| 15/100 | 0.15 | Fifteen hundredths |
| 40/100 | 0.40 | Forty hundredths |
| 99/100 | 0.99 | Ninety-nine hundredths |
Practice Tip
When you see a decimal with two digits after the decimal point, you can always read it as "hundredths." For example, 0.37 is "thirty-seven hundredths."
Practice Quiz
Test your understanding of hundredths with this 5-question quiz. Choose the correct answer for each question.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to common questions about hundredths:
Math Trivia
Discover interesting facts about decimals and hundredths:
Decimal History
The decimal system we use today was popularized by Simon Stevin, a Flemish mathematician, in the 16th century. He introduced the concept of decimal fractions in his 1585 book "De Thiende" (The Tenth).
Currency Connections
Many currencies around the world are based on hundredths. The US dollar is divided into 100 cents, the euro into 100 cents, the British pound into 100 pence, and many others follow this pattern.
Metric System
The metric system is based on decimals and hundredths. The prefix "centi-" means one hundredth. So a centimeter is one hundredth of a meter, and a centiliter is one hundredth of a liter.
Sports Statistics
In baseball, batting averages are recorded as decimals to three places (thousandths). A .300 average means the player gets a hit 30% of the time, or 30 hundredths of their at-bats result in hits.
