Whole numbers and decimal numbers have different roles in our daily lives. It’s important for Year 7 students to understand this!

What Are They?

• Whole Numbers: These are numbers like 0, 1, 2, 3, and so on. They are used when we count or put things in order.

• Decimal Numbers: These numbers include parts of whole numbers, like 0.1, 0.25, or 3.75. They help us be more accurate.

Key Differences:

1. Measurement:

   • Whole numbers are used for things we can count, like the number of students in a class (for example, 30 students).
   • Decimal numbers are used for measurements that need more detail, like how tall a plant is (for example, 1.75 meters).

2. Applications:

   • Finance: Whole numbers indicate whole amounts of money (like £5). Decimal numbers show prices (like £5.99).
   • Statistics: Percentages are often shown as decimals (like 65% becomes 0.65) to make the data clearer.

3. Examples:

   • If a recipe needs 2 cups of flour (a whole number) and 0.5 cups of sugar (a decimal), you can see how each type of number is used differently.

Conclusion:

Knowing how whole numbers and decimal numbers work in everyday situations can help students solve problems better and improve their number skills.