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Maths Adventures

Theme park maths quest: decimals

A story-led junior maths adventure using queues, tickets and ride timings to measure small distances, money and scores with tenths and hundredths.

Quick answer

Decimals help us measure small parts of things, like how long a ride takes or how much money a ticket costs. In a theme park, you’ll use decimals to count money, read ride times, and understand how far you are in a queue.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will understand how decimals work in real-life situations, like when you’re at a theme park. You’ll be able to:
  • Read and write decimals like 0.5 or 1.25
  • Use decimals to measure short lengths, money, and times
  • Compare decimal numbers like 0.7 and 0.35
  • Use decimals to solve simple problems about tickets, queues, and rides

Why this matters

Decimals are used everywhere – in theme parks, shops, cooking, and even when you're playing games. At a theme park, you might see a ride that takes 1.5 minutes, or a ticket that costs £12.95. Understanding decimals helps you:
  • Count your money correctly
  • Understand how long you have to wait in a queue
  • Compare prices and find the best deals
  • Measure small parts of things, like how far you are from the front of a line

How it works

Decimals are a way to show parts of a whole number. When we write a decimal, we use a point (called a decimal point) to separate the whole number from the parts. For example:
  • 1.5 means 1 whole and 5 tenths
  • 0.75 means 75 hundredths
Think of decimals like pieces of a pie:
  • 1 whole pie = 1.0
  • Half a pie = 0.5
  • A quarter of a pie = 0.25

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you’re at a theme park and you see these signs: Ride Times:
  • Roller Coaster: 1.5 minutes
  • Carousel: 0.75 minutes
  • Water Slide: 2.25 minutes
Ticket Prices:
  • Child ticket: £12.95
  • Adult ticket: £25.50
  • Family ticket: £68.75
Queue Length:
  • You are 0.3 of the way to the front
  • There are 0.8 people in front of you
Now, let’s think about what these numbers mean:
  • 1.5 minutes means 1 whole minute and half a minute (30 seconds)
  • 0.75 minutes means 3 quarters of a minute (45 seconds)
  • £12.95 means £12 and 95 pence
  • £25.50 means £25 and 50 pence

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Theme Park Quest You are on a mission to find the best ride deals and calculate how long you’ll wait in line. Here’s your quest: Step 1: You see a ticket booth with a sign that says:
  • Child ticket: £12.95
  • Adult ticket: £25.50
Step 2: You need to calculate how much money you’ll need for 2 adults and 3 children.
  • 2 adults = £25.50 × 2 = £51.00
  • 3 children = £12.95 × 3 = £38.85
  • Total = £51.00 + £38.85 = £89.85
Step 3: You see a ride that says “Wait time: 1.25 minutes”. How many seconds is that?
  • 1 minute = 60 seconds
  • 0.25 minutes = 15 seconds
  • 1.25 minutes = 60 + 15 = 75 seconds
Step 4: You are in a queue that is 1.75 people long. How many people are in front of you?
  • 1.75 people = 1 whole person and 0.75 of another person
  • 0.75 = 3/4 of a person = 45 seconds of waiting time
Step 5: You are at the front of the queue. The ride says it takes 2.5 minutes. How many seconds is that?
  • 2 minutes = 120 seconds
  • 0.5 minutes = 30 seconds
  • 2.5 minutes = 150 seconds

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking 0.8 is bigger than 0.12 because 8 is bigger than 12.
  • Why it happens: Children often compare decimals like whole numbers without thinking about the place value.
  • Fix: Remember that 0.8 = 0.80, so 0.80 is bigger than 0.12.
  • Mistake: Adding 0.5 + 0.25 = 0.75, but writing it as 0.750 or 0.7500.
  • Why it happens: Children might think more decimal places make a number bigger.
  • Fix: 0.75 = 0.750 = 0.7500. They are all the same value.
  • Mistake: Confusing 0.3 and 0.30.
  • Why it happens: Children might think 0.30 is bigger because it has more digits.
  • Fix: 0.3 = 0.30. They are equal.

Parent and carer guide

Here’s how you can help your child learn decimals at home:
  • Use real-life examples like prices, measurements, and time to show how decimals work.
  • Practice reading decimals in everyday situations, like the time on a digital clock or the price of a snack.
  • Ask questions like: “What does 0.5 of a pizza mean?” or “If a ride takes 1.25 minutes, how many seconds is that?”
  • Use visual aids like number lines or coins to help your child see decimals as parts of a whole.
  • Don’t worry if your child makes mistakes – they’re part of learning. Guide them gently to correct their thinking.

Practice questions

  1. What is 0.4 as a fraction?
  2. Which is bigger: 0.6 or 0.65?
  3. How many seconds are in 1.5 minutes?
  4. What is 0.75 + 0.25?
  5. A ticket costs £15.95. How much is that in pounds and pence?
  6. Which is smaller: 0.3 or 0.30?
  7. How many seconds are in 2.25 minutes?
  8. What is 1.25 + 0.75?
  9. How many minutes is 0.5 of an hour?
  10. What is 0.9 + 0.1?
Answers:
  1. 4/10 or 2/5
  2. 0.65
  3. 90 seconds
  4. 1.0
  5. £15 and 95 pence
  6. They are the same
  7. 135 seconds
  8. 2.0
  9. 30 minutes
  10. 1.0

FAQ

What are decimals?

Decimals are a way to show parts of a whole number, like 0.5 or 1.25. The decimal point separates the whole number from the parts.

Why do we use decimals?

We use decimals to be more precise when measuring things like time, money, or distance. For example, a ride might take 1.5 minutes, which is more precise than just saying 1 minute and 30 seconds.

How do decimals relate to fractions?

Decimals and fractions are two ways to show the same thing. For example, 0.5 is the same as 1/2, and 0.25 is the same as 1/4.

How can I help my child with decimals at home?

You can use everyday examples like shopping, cooking, or timing activities to show how decimals work. Ask questions and use visual aids like number lines or coins to help your child understand.

Are decimals used in games?

Yes! Many games use decimals to show scores, times, or progress. For example, a game might show your score as 12.5 points or your time as 3.75 seconds.