Uses of Decimal Fractions in Real Life Situations

What are Decimals?

A lot of ancient civilisations, including the Harappan, Greeks, Romans, and the Egyptians, used a system of numerals called the decimal. Even the Vedas are said to have this system of numbering. It is said that since humans have 10 fingers, the decimal numbering system uses multiples of 10. Decimals can also be used to express fractions which makes the system more accurate and useful. 

Fractions are said to have been first introduced in decimals at the end of the 4th century BCE by the Chinese. It was later acquired by the Middle East around the 10th Century and, finally, made its way to Europe by the 16th Century. 

The current representation of fractions in decimal format was formalised in 1616 by John Napier, a Scottish Mathematician. He is responsible for the addition of the decimal point. The left part of the decimal point is whole numbers, and the fractional part is represented by the numbers on the right of the decimal point.

What are Decimal Fractions?

The definition of a decimal fraction is a fraction in which the denominator is a power of ten (such as 10, 100, 1000, etc.). Decimal fractions can be written without a denominator using a decimal point, making it easier to perform calculations on fractions. 

Applications in Daily Life

Decimals are very useful in real-life situations due to the property of decimals to provide accurate measurements when required. They are heavily utilised in industries such as Science, Engineering, Commerce, and Finance. 

Here are a few applications of how decimals are used in the real world –

Exchange of Money

One application of how decimals are used in the real world is in the exchange of money. Most of our currencies contain decimals. For example, in India, the decimal point is represented by paise, which is the smallest component of our currency. 

Situation 1 

The cost of a particular item may contain a decimal point. For example, the price of a kilogram of onions may be 52 Rupees and 50 paise, which is represented in decimals as 52.50 Rupees.

Situation 2

You go out with 5 of your friends for dinner, and the bill comes up to Rupees 567. 

Decimals are used to split the cost evenly between all 5 people accurately. Mathematically represented as Rupees 567/5 = 113.4

Businesses use exact decimal values when keeping track of their sales to avoid losing any money.

Scientific Calculations

Another application of how decimals are used in the real world is in scientific calculations. The need for mathematical accuracy in science is monumental, and this can be achieved only using the decimal point. A small change in the decimal value of a certain quantity can lead to significant deviations in the results and can even lead to many false theories being proven. 

Many important values in science are represented with decimal points, such as pi (3.14), Force of Gravity (9.81), and Euler’s Number (e) (2.71). The number of digits on the right-hand side of the decimal point is increased when there is a need for more accuracy. For example, the most accurate value for pi contains an infinite number of digits after the decimal.

Sports

Decimals are continuously used in sports to keep a count of the variables that impact the result. For example, in athletics, the distance jumped or thrown or the time taken to complete a race is always shown in decimals. This ensures that the result is accurate and is used to determine the correct winner.

Another application of how decimals are used in the real world is in cricket. Decimals are used to display the accurate run rate and required run rate. The required run rate is essential in determining the number of runs required per over. Decimals are also used to display how many balls have been bowled in an over. It is also used to measure the speed of the ball accurately.   

Construction

Accurate measurements of the dimensions such as height, length, and breadth are required when a certain project is under construction. Herein lies another application of how decimals are used in the real world. Decimals are used to measure these dimensions to make sure that they are accurate. If not done so, it can lead to unsavoury results. 

Additionally, many systems that go into the management of these buildings, such as air conditioning and fire safety, use accurate measurements to decimal to maximise potential and minimise risk.

Medicine

Another application of how decimals are used in the real world is in the medical field. There are a variety of uses for decimal points in the medical field. Most of the medical tests performed by medical professionals display their results in decimals. The presence of an abnormality or disease can be discovered even with a slight change in the value.

A lot of equipment used in hospitals, such as a thermometer or other equipment, uses decimals to show accurate results. 

Decimals are even more important when researching and developing new drugs and vaccines where accurate measurements of different chemicals are required to create a new drug. 

Measurement of weight

Another application of how decimals are used in the real world is in the accurate measurement of weight. Accurate measurement of weight is useful during a purchase of a commodity. It suggests the amount of money required to buy the commodity. It is more useful when the commodity’s price is very high such as gold, as even a slight change in the weight changes its valuation significantly.

Health and Fitness

Health and fitness is another application of decimals in daily life. It can be used to show the accurate weight of a person. It is also used to calculate the exact amount of calories consumed by a person to keep track of their dietary goals. Many people even weigh the amount of food they are eating very finely. At the gym, there are different weights of dumbbells or other weights, which are represented in decimals.      

Conclusion

The definition of a decimal fraction is a fraction in which the denominator is a power of ten (such as 10, 100, 1000, etc.). Decimal fractions can be written without a denominator using a decimal point, making it easier to perform calculations on fractions.

The current representation of fractions in decimal format was formalised in 1616 by John Napier, a Scottish Mathematician. Decimals are very useful in real-life situations due to the property of decimals to provide accurate measurements when required. They are heavily utilised in industries such as Science, Engineering, Commerce, and Finance. They are also useful in the exchange of money, sports, fitness, and construction.