Explain why it is important to line up decimal numbers by their place value when you add or subtract them

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Where are the following equations?

You have 2 sides that are 2 cms and you have 6 sides that are 1/2 cm and you have 4 sides that are 1 cm. the smallest sides are 1/2 the medium sized sides are 1 and the smallest are 1/2. so to find the perimeter you have to add them all up together so your answer will be 11 cm's