Understanding decimal place values is really important for adding and subtracting because it helps us get the right answer. When we line up decimal points, the value of each number stays the same. This makes our calculations easier and more accurate.

Why It's Important:

1. Alignment: Lining up decimals helps us see the values clearly in the same spot. For example:

   12.34
   

• 5.6

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2. **Carrying Over**: When we add $0.34 + 0.6$, we first align the numbers like this:

0.34

• 0.60

  This way, we make sure to consider the value of each digit, and we end up with $0.94$.
  
  

3. Common Mistakes: If we don’t line things up right, we might make mistakes. For instance, treating $0.3$ like it’s $3$ instead of $0.30$.

Getting good at this skill gives us a solid base for doing more complicated math with decimals!