Decimal Word Problems

The clues for decimal word problems are generally the same as for whole numbers and fractions.
Clues for addition are: how much, how many, altogether, in all, sum, total.
Clues for subtraction are: what is the difference, how much more/less/farther/shorter/longer, etc.
Like whole numbers, addition and subtraction are generally easier for students. You are adding or subtractions like things, with the same names (e.g., inches + inches) or in the same category (apples + oranges = how many fruit?)
With multiplication, you are given the value for one item and asked for a total for more than one item. For example, if you spend $6.10 in one month, how much will you spend in 8 months.
Multiplication and division will generally have two different units of measurement. For example, dollars and months.
With division, your are given a product (total) and one of the multipliers and asked for the other multiplier.
In one case, you are given a total and asked to divide it into an equal number of pieces. The answer will be the size of each piece.
In the other case, you are given a total and the size of each piece (item) and asked how many pieces of that size you can get from that total.
An additional type of problem is similar to taking a fractional part. For example if .8 of your class passed a test and there are 40 in the class, you would do it as .8 x 40 = 32, which is the same as 8/10 x 40 = 32 in fraction multiplication.