Definition
Equivalent decimal
Equivalent decimals are decimal numerals that name the same number.
What it means
A far-right zero adds a smaller place but adds zero of those pieces. That changes how the decimal is written, not where it sits on the number line. For example, 0.6 is six tenths and 0.60 is sixty hundredths; both name the same amount.
Remember it
Add a far-right zero; the point on the number line stays put.
Example
1.250 = 1.25 because 1.250 is 1 whole, 2 tenths, 5 hundredths, and 0 thousandths.
Watch for
Only trailing zeros at the far right can be added or removed this way. The numbers 0.52 and 0.502 are not equivalent.
Common mix-up
A decimal with more written places is not automatically larger; compare the values place by place.
Exact meaning
Equivalent decimals are decimal numerals with the same value. For a terminating decimal, adding or removing trailing zeros at the far right of the decimal part does not change the number.