Final answer:
Reading decimal numbers requires understanding the places to the right of the decimal point: tenths, hundredths, thousandths, etc. The least significant place value—which in 0.604 is the thousandth place—helps in reading, rounding, and performing operations like moving the decimal point or using scientific notation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding how to read decimal numbers is important in mathematics. When reading the digits to the right of the decimal point, the name of each place value position helps you determine the value of the digit. For example, in the number 0.604, the digit '6' is in the tenth place, which means it represents six tenths, the digit '0' is in the hundredth place, acting as a placeholder, and the '4' is in the thousandth place, representing four thousandths. Similarly, in 1.604, the '1' is in the ones place, the '6' is in the tenth place, the '0' is a placeholder in the hundredth place, and the '4' is in the thousandth place.
Knowing the least place value is also important when rounding or when dealing with operations that affect the decimal point. For instance, if we need to move the decimal point or deal with scientific notation, recognizing the least significant digit's place value informs us how to maintain numerical accuracy. If you understand that the least significant digit in 1.604 is the '4' in the thousandth place, you would keep the decimal up to three places if you were to round or shift the decimal in calculations.