Place value is a key concept in the decimal number system, where each digit’s position represents a specific power of 10. In healthcare, understanding place value is essential for interpreting and calculating measurements like medication dosages, lab results, and vital signs.
This section will help you determine the place value of digits to the left and right of the decimal point, from ones and tenths to hundredths and thousandths. With clear examples, you’ll learn how place value affects calculations and how to use it for accurate and precise measurements in healthcare.
The decimal number system is a base 10 system, so the digits of each place can be any number from 0 to 9. Each place value has a name.
For large numbers, digits are separated by commas or spaces into groups of three, called periods. For example,