Step 1 — Split at the point.
Left part 34 = whole number, right part 256 = the fractional part.
Why this step? The point separates "amounts ≥ 1" from "amounts < 1", so we handle each with its own place values.
Step 2 — Assign left-side places (×10 going left).3→ tens =3×10=30; 4→ ones =4×1=4.
Why? Standard whole-number place value.
Step 3 — Assign right-side places (÷10 going right).2→ tenths =2×0.1=0.25→ hundredths =5×0.01=0.056→ thousandths =6×0.001=0.006Why? Each step right is one-tenth of the step before.
Step 4 — Add.30+4+0.2+0.05+0.006=34.256✓Why this step? Confirms our place values are correct — they must rebuild the original number.
Recall Why can't the digit after the point be read as a big number?
Because each of those digits lives in a different, shrinking place (tenths, hundredths…). "256" after the point is 2(101)+5(1001)+6(10001), NOT two-hundred-fifty-six of anything single.
Recall Predict: how do you write "three hundred four thousandths" as a decimal?
Forecast, then check. "thousandths" → last digit in 3rd place. 304 thousandths =1000304=0.304. ✔ (Notice the internal 0 keeps 3 in tenths, 4 in thousandths.)
Whole numbers grow by 10 times each step left: 1 → 10 → 100. Decimals shrink by 10 times each step right: 1 → one-tenth → one-hundredth. The little dot is a fence: on its left are whole things, on its right are pieces of one thing. To read, say the whole part, say "point", then call out the pieces one digit at a time. Adding a zero at the very end changes nothing (0.3 = 0.30), but a zero in the middle pushes numbers into smaller boxes, so it matters.
Dekho, decimal ka matlab simple hai: humara number system base-10 hai — jaise left jaate ho har place 10 guna badi hoti hai (1, 10, 100), waise hi decimal point ke right jaate ho har place 10 se choti hoti hai (tenths, hundredths, thousandths). Woh chhota sa dot koi jadoo nahi karta — bas ek fence hai jo bolta hai "yahan tak ones place, iske baad tukde (pieces) shuru."
Padhne ka rule yaad rakho: pehle whole part normal bolo, phir "point" bolo, phir point ke baad har digit alag-alag bolo. Jaise 34.256 = "thirty-four point two five six", na ki "point two hundred fifty-six". Kyun? Kyunki har digit apni alag chhoti place mein baithi hai — 2 tenths mein, 5 hundredths mein, 6 thousandths mein.
Ek badi galti students karte hain: sochte hain 0.45, 0.5 se bada hai kyunki 45 > 5. Galat! Decimals ko left se, place by place compare karo. 0.5=0.50, ab tenths dekho: 5 vs 4 → toh 0.5 bada hai. Aur yaad rakho — end mein zero lagane se value nahi badalti (0.3=0.30), lekin beech mein zero (0.06) important hai kyunki woh digit ko choti place mein dhakel deta hai.
Yeh topic chhota lagta hai par 80/20 rule ke hisaab se yahi foundation hai — money, measurement, marks sab decimals pe chalte hain. Ek baar place value clear ho gaya toh comparing, rounding, addition sab aasaan.
