Grade 6 · Mathematics
Calculating with decimals in Grade 6
Your child adds, subtracts, multiplies, and divides decimals in practical situations with sensible estimates.
Where this sits in the year
One skill in the Grade 6 constellation
A practical map of the math skills learners build through Grade 6. Exact timing varies by curriculum.
How it's taught now
Place-value models and estimation come before written algorithms, with digits aligned by value rather than appearance.
Three mistakes to watch for
Aligning the last digits instead of decimal points.
Dropping a zero that holds a place.
Accepting an answer that is far from the estimate.
A worked example
Calculate 12.5 × 2.4.
Multiply 125 × 24, then account for two decimal places.
Answer: 30
Try this together
Two grocery items cost $3.75 and $2.60. About how much should the total be before calculating exactly?
Give them a moment to talk it through. The explanation matters more than a quick answer.