Have you ever wondered what a decimal point is?  Well, a decimal point is a dot placed in a decimal number.  What do you think a decimal number is?  A decimal number is a number that contains a decimal point.  Now, what do you think a decimal place is?  A decimal place is the place value to the right of the decimal point.  They are the tenths', hundredths', thousandths' places and so on.
 
    When adding and subtracting decimals, line up your      decimal places.  Stick zeros (0) in the empty places.
                Subtraction                       Addition
Example:                                           Example:
98.5 - 15.26 =                                   15.92 + 6.8524  =              
The way you solve this                     The way you solve this
 problem is:                                        problem is:
 
 #1- You line up your                         #1- You line up your
problem like this:                              problem like this:
(putting zeros in the                          (putting zeros in the
empty places)                                    empty places)
 
 98.50                                                  15.9200
-51.26