How to Add 3 or More Decimals

      Adding 3 or more decimals is just like adding 3 or more whole numbers. We use column form.

Just be careful to line up the decimal points.

Let's add these numbers:

34.5 + 11.2 + 48.5 = ?

First, write them in column, or vertical, form like this:

Let's start solving by adding the smallest digits, the Tenths.

We have to carry over into the Ones.

Next, we add the remaining columns one by one, including any carry overs.

Finally, we bring down the decimal point, between the Ones and Tenths places.

Our answer is 94.2. 🎉

Adding Decimals and Whole Numbers

Let's try to solve a more challenging problem:

24.6 + 42.105 + 118.3 + 0.25 + 37 = ?

We can use column form again.

Just line up the decimal points, like this:

Tip: It usually helps to add placeholder zeros in places with no digits.

The last number is a whole number, so we add a decimal point after it and add 3 zeros.

Now, let's add one place at a time, starting with the rightmost (👉) place, the Thousandths place.

Next, we add the Hundredths place.

Then we add the digits in the Tenths place.

We move on to adding the Ones place.

Note that we carried 2 over to the top of 2 in the Tens place.

After that, we add the Tens place. Don't forget to add the 2 that we carried over from the Ones place.

Lastly, we add the Hundreds place.

Make sure to write the decimal point in the correct position.

We found our answer, 222.255.

Nice work. 👏

Now, try the practice.