Semester Exam Study Guide
Adding Decimals
1. Place the numbers so that the decimal points are aligned vertically.
2. Add each column, starting on the right and working left.
3. If the sum of a column is greater than or equal to ten, carry the one to the next
column on the left.
Example 1: Find the sum of the following numbers.
51.637 + 17.421 = ?
Solution: Write the numbers so that their decimal points are aligned vertically. Then,
add.
Example 2:Find the sum of the following numbers.
34.87 + 16.845 = ?
Solution:Write the numbers so that their decimal points are aligned vertically. Then,
add.
Subtracting Decimals
1. Place the numbers so that the decimal points are aligned vertically.(Add zeros if
needed.)
2. Subtract each column, starting on the right and working left.
3. If the number being subtracted is larger than the number it is being subtracted from,
subtract one from the number in the next left column, and then add ten to the number.
(This is called regrouping, or borrowing.)
Example 1: Find the difference of the following numbers.
89.254 - 67.523 = ?
Solution: Write the numbers so that their decimal points are aligned vertically. Then,
subtract.
Example 2: Find the difference of the following numbers.
56.957 - 24.46 = ?
Solution: Write the numbers so that their decimal points are aligned vertically. Then,
subtract.
Multiplying Decimals
1. Multiply the numbers, ignoring the decimal points.
2. Count the total number of places after the decimals in the numbers being multiplied.
3. The answer will have the same number of places after the decimal as the total
number of places in the numbers being multiplied.
Example 1:Find the product of the following numbers.
0.245 × 3.8 = ?
Solution: Multiply the numbers, ignoring the decimal points. Since 0.245 has 3
decimal places and 3.8 has 1 decimal place, the answer will have a total of 4 decimal
places.
Example 2: Find the product of the following numbers.
671.2 × 2.4 = ?
Solution: Multiply the numbers, ignoring the decimal points. Since 671.2 has 1
decimal place and 2.4 has 1 decimal place, the answer will have a total of 2 decimal
places.
Dividing Decimals
1. Move the decimal point in the divisor to the right to make it a whole number.
2. Move the decimal point in the dividend to the right the same number of places the
decimal was moved for the divisor.
3. Divide the numbers ignoring the decimal point.
4. Bring the decimal point straight up from the dividend into the answer.
Example 1: Find the quotient of the following numbers.
93.75 ÷ 7.5 = ?
Solution: To make the divisor, 7.5, a whole number, move the decimal point 1 place
to the right. The divisor is now 75.
Move the decimal point in the dividend, 93.75, 1 place to the right as well. The dividend
is now 937.5.
Now, divide and bring the decimal point straight up in the answer.
Example 2: Find the quotient of the following numbers.
0.869 ÷ 0.11 = ?
Solution: To make the divisor, 0.11, a whole number, move the decimal point 2
places to the right. The divisor is now 11.
Move the decimal point in the dividend, 0.869, 2 places to the right as well. The
dividend is now 86.9.
Now, divide and bring the decimal point straight up in the answer.
Character Analysis
You can understand stories better when you understand characters. This is called character
analysis. When you analyze characters, think about the following.
Trait: a special quality or something special about someone's personality.
examples:

hair color, eye color, height, weight, age, beliefs, likes, dislikes, opinions, behavior

"Andy was a nice boy of medium height with brown hair and eyes. He liked rock music,
baseball, and pizza. He was a loyal friend and a great athlete. He always told the truth
and gave the right answer in class."
Motivation: what causes someone to act in a certain way. It can be an emotion, desire,
need, etc. A motivation is the reason we do something.
examples:

"Sara was motivated to win the game today after her disappointing loss last week."

"Tim went to the grocery store because his kitchen was empty and he was very
hungry."

"Kim acted rude to Carrie because Carrie did not invite her to a birthday party."
Conflict: when characters have different interests or goals.
examples:

"My mom and I had a fight because I put a dent in the car and didn't tell her. She was
mad that I didn't tell her the truth."

"Jim and Steve are fighting because they like the same girl."

"There is a conflict between people who think school should be year-round and those
who don't."
Point of View: the side from which a story is told. It can affect how facts are shown and
how we look at the characters.
examples:

"Because Tina told the teacher her version of the story first, I got punished even though
it wasn't my fault."

"Because a story is told from the side of a little brother, the big sister character may
look bad even though she is a nice girl."
Relationships: the connection of people in friendship, family, work, school, or other
activities.
examples:

mother, sister, friend, teacher, neighbor, father, boss, etc.

"Tickets for the Super Bowl sold out two weeks ago, but I was able to attend the game
since my father is head coach for one of the teams."
Think about how all these character traits affect the story. A character's traits or relationships
might affect his or her point of view. Motivation affects action and changes. When we
understand all of these things, a character becomes easy to understand. When writing your own
characters, think about all these things. You'll be on your way to making an interesting and deep
character.
Example Question:
The weather could not have been more perfect. Annie was so ecstatic that it was
Saturday. She planned to spend the day playing basketball with her friends and
swimming in the afternoon if they had time. It was late May and she could almost feel
summer about to start. Only three more weeks of school! She had a ridiculous amount
of homework to do that weekend, but that was what Sunday nights were invented for.
"Ollie, come outside with us," she tugged at her older brother's shirtsleeve. He was
spread out on the kitchen table, papers from one end of the surface to the other, intent
upon solving an intricate math equation. "It's Saturday! Time to play!"
"Annie, I have to finish this. Otherwise, I might flunk math." He gave her a serious
look and punched a series of numbers into an enormous scientific calculator. She
munched on her breakfast, getting crumbs all over his work. He brushed them aside
carefully and deposited them in the wastebasket, only to have her create a whole new
mess before he returned to his seat. She grinned and bounced on one foot, a ball of
energy. Ollie took a bite of his sister's raisin bagel. They both loved bagels smeared in
cream cheese, though Ollie usually ate his on a plate with a napkin.
"Oh come on, Ol, you haven't gotten so much as an A minus in years. Don't be such
a bummer." She kept tugging at his arm. He waved her off distractedly.
"No, you go ahead. Wait, didn't mom say you had to finish your chores before going
outside?"
"Aww, don't you start too." With a wave, she was off, half-eaten bagel in one hand
and a ball in the other. Ollie shook his head at his impulsive sister. Though it was true
that he got all A's, the same could not be said of Annie. He hoped that she would learn
to be responsible one day, better sooner rather than later. After all, he wouldn't always
be around to clean up after her.
17. How are Ollie and Annie similar?
A. They like to play basketball.
B. They are both messy when they eat.
C. They both get straight A's in school.
D. They like the same breakfast food.
Correct answer is D: Though Ollie and his sister Annie are very different people,
there are some similarities between them. They belong to the same family and
seem to like each other. Also, the siblings enjoy the same breakfast food, bagels
with cream cheese on them.
18. How is Annie different than her brother?
A. She gets better grades.
B. She is cleaner.
C. She enjoys math.
D. She is less responsible.
Correct Answer is D: There are many differences between Annie and her brother Ollie.
One of the main differences is that Annie is less responsible than Ollie. Ollie does
his homework right away and cleans up after Annie. Annie puts off doing her
homework and ignores her chores.
Study Tips to better understand what you’re reading:
Form a picture of the characters and setting in your head.
Play the story as a movie in your head using your imagination, using your imagination will help
you understand what you’re reading in ways that make it personal and memorable.