1. The problem is to understand what a decimal number is and how to work with it. 2. A decimal number is a number that has a whole part and a fractional part separated by a decimal point. For example, $12.34$ has $12$ as the whole part and $34$ as the fractional part. 3. Important rules: - The place values to the right of the decimal point are tenths, hundredths, thousandths, etc. - Each place value is $\frac{1}{10}$ of the place to its left. 4. Example: Convert $0.75$ to a fraction. - $0.75 = \frac{75}{100}$ because $75$ is in the hundredths place. - Simplify $\frac{75}{100}$ by dividing numerator and denominator by $25$: $$\frac{75 \div 25}{100 \div 25} = \frac{3}{4}$$ 5. So, $0.75$ as a fraction is $\frac{3}{4}$. Decimals are just another way to represent fractions and real numbers.