Making a Whole Using Decimals: Word Problem Example
27 October 2026
Word problems with decimals often ask your child to find how much more is needed to reach a whole number. This helps them understand both subtraction and decimal place value in a real-life context.
Worked example
A cake recipe needs 1 whole litre of milk. You have already poured 0.75 litres. How much more milk do you need to add to make 1 litre?
Step 1: The recipe needs 1 litre in total.
Step 2: You already have 0.75 litres.
Step 3: Subtract what you have from the total. 1.00 - 0.75 = 0.25
Step 4: You need to add 0.25 litres more milk to make 1 litre.
Click or tap on the number line to answer
Key insight: After working through this example, your child will recognise how to spot what is missing to make a whole using decimals. They are now ready to try similar questions on their own.
