OMG! More Decimals?
Students often make needless decimal mistakes that can cost valuable exam marks.
Two problems are common:
- Converting feet/inches to decimal equivalent. Remember that there’s 12 inches in one foot. So, for example, 10 feet 6 inches is not 10.6 feet, but rather 10.5 feet (10 feet and 6/12 inches = 10.5 feet). Similarly, 8 foot 3 inches is not 8.3 feet, but rather 8.25 feet (8 feet and 3/12 = 8.25 feet).
- Condominium Common Expenses: Condo docs express ownership share as a percentage (e.g., 0.32625%). However, when completing calculations using that percentage, remember to convert to a decimal by moving it two places to the left; i.e., 0.003625. For example, if the total monthly common expenses are $78,300, the unit share in that common expense is 0.0032625 x $78,300 = $255.45.
Tip: If possible, change the number of decimal places on your calculator to at least 6, this will help give the most accuracy on sequential calculations.