The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-10-19
A METHOD OF READING AND WRIT
ING DE0IMAIS.


ING DEOIMALS.
Decimal Fractions are subject to the
same laws of increase and decrease as
whole mum bers. and, therefore. should be
taught in immediate connection with
them The object of his article is to
call attention to a very simple and
natural method Of reading and writing
decimals
I have observed tEat in many Of our
standard Arthmetics, this subject is
treated in an artificial. and, as it seems
to me, very unsclentifie manner. 1t is
matter of surprise to the author o.
this note, that So excellent a mashena-
tician as Prof OIney, should adopt SC
singular method as the ohe he has
given in his elements Of Arithmetic. !"
1t is designed Gin this article) to develop
method, which is correct, brief and
practical.
/. The class is first taught that tentlfs
are written in the first place at the right
of the decimal point, bundredths in the
second place, thousands in the third
place and so ON. The class will soon
learn to associate tie name Of the deci-
NAL with the number Of places it occU-
pies ia the decimal scale.
Having mastered this much, the pu-
pill is now ready to take up the subjects
of notation and enumeration or decimal
fractions.
Taking up notation, let US suppose
that the pupil is required co write forty
five huncred- thousandths. He knows
that hundred-thousandt occupy five
places in the scale, and, also, that the
significant figures, rs, occupy two places.
Then there will he three places filed by
ciphers. He writes, first, the decimal
points, then three ciphers, lastly 45, and
the thing is done.
1t sal b. nnriced that in this process
there arr two ,hin4s 10 do, first 70 !hlnks
then 80 write.
Tie r,adiig II dtcima's is next IN
order. Instead Of na.nlng place bl
place, the number of places occupied by
the decimal is quickly taken in by the
the eye; the most tcachable of the sense 8.
The name of the decimal is, at orct /,
present in the mind, ard the number is
read without any difficulty. Thus to
read the following; O000065 In an
instant the pupil sees that the decimal
occupies seven places, hence its name ls
ten millionths. He then reads Go, "the
how many" adds the name, and the
thing is done again.
ADVANTAGES CLAIMED FOR THIS METHOD.
1. It .fozzoa0S the general Ian Of
aOriti11g sentences and numbers 0i2. ;;
they are aorttte1a. from left to right.
In the ordinary method, they are
written from right to left.
2. We bG0e q definite starting place,
at a0hicb to begin aOgit5aag the decimal.
That place is the decimal p;'int. What
awkward work is often made by pupils
in writing decimals fer tue purpose Of
addition and subtraction Ttey cannot
make the tenths fall in the column Of
tenths without repeated trials. Bnt, by
fixing the point at first, we have some
thing to guide on, and can, at one,
write the decimal.
8. 1t Su0eS time
4. 1t calls 0ut thought First the
number of places occupied by the deci-
nal, then the places filed by significant
figures, lastly the places filed by ciphers
If any.
8. 1t Sa0es. the necessity Of reSoqting
to fractions. We need no: begin ut the
right hand order and call it tenths. It
is not te12tbS nol is there any necessity
for calling it such.
The above met hod has stood The test
of the sehool-room, | hope my fellow
teachers may be induce to give it a fair
trial. 51a. SIS. t4a r
TIT