Index: impl/src/java/org/sakaiproject/component/gradebook/GradebookServiceHibernateImpl.java
===================================================================
--- impl/src/java/org/sakaiproject/component/gradebook/GradebookServiceHibernateImpl.java	(revision 97135)
+++ impl/src/java/org/sakaiproject/component/gradebook/GradebookServiceHibernateImpl.java	(working copy)
@@ -2838,4 +2838,42 @@
         
         if(log.isDebugEnabled()) log.debug("GradebookManager.applyDropScores took " + (System.currentTimeMillis() - start) + " millis to execute");
     }
+    
+    public PointsPossibleValidation isPointsPossibleValid(String gradebookUid, org.sakaiproject.service.gradebook.shared.Assignment gradebookItem, 
+            Double pointsPossible) {
+        if (gradebookUid == null) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Null gradebookUid passed to isPointsPossibleValid");
+        }
+        if (gradebookItem == null) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("Null gradebookItem passed to isPointsPossibleValid");
+        }
+
+        // At this time, all gradebook items follow the same business rules for
+        // points possible (aka relative weight in % gradebooks) so special logic 
+        // using the properties of the gradebook item is unnecessary. 
+        // In the future, we will have the flexibility to change
+        // that behavior without changing the method signature
+
+        // the points possible must be a non-null value greater than 0 with
+        // no more than 2 decimal places
+        
+        if (pointsPossible == null) {
+            return PointsPossibleValidation.INVALID_NULL_VALUE;
+        }
+        
+        if (pointsPossible.doubleValue() <= 0) {
+            return PointsPossibleValidation.INVALID_NUMERIC_VALUE;
+        }
+        // ensure there are no more than 2 decimal places
+        BigDecimal bd = new BigDecimal(pointsPossible.doubleValue());
+        bd = bd.setScale(2, BigDecimal.ROUND_HALF_UP); // Two decimal places
+        double roundedVal = bd.doubleValue();
+        double diff = pointsPossible - roundedVal;
+        if (diff != 0) {
+            return PointsPossibleValidation.INVALID_DECIMAL;
+        }
+
+        return PointsPossibleValidation.VALID;
+    }
+
 }
\ No newline at end of file
Index: api/src/java/org/sakaiproject/service/gradebook/shared/GradebookService.java
===================================================================
--- api/src/java/org/sakaiproject/service/gradebook/shared/GradebookService.java	(revision 97135)
+++ api/src/java/org/sakaiproject/service/gradebook/shared/GradebookService.java	(working copy)
@@ -62,6 +62,33 @@
 	
 	public static final MathContext MATH_CONTEXT = new MathContext(10, RoundingMode.HALF_DOWN);
 	
+	/** 
+     * An enum for defining valid/invalid information for a points possible/relative weight
+     * value for a gradebook item. See {@link GradebookService#isPointsPossibleValid(String, Assignment, Double)}
+     * for usage
+     */
+    public enum PointsPossibleValidation {
+        /**
+         * The points possible/relative weight is valid
+         */
+        VALID,
+        /**
+         * The points possible/relative weight is invalid because it is null 
+         * and a value is required.
+         */
+        INVALID_NULL_VALUE,
+        /**
+         * The points possible/relative weight is invalid because it
+         * is a value <= 0
+         */
+        INVALID_NUMERIC_VALUE,
+        /**
+         * The points possible/relative weight is invalid because it contains
+         * more than 2 decimal places
+         */
+        INVALID_DECIMAL
+    }
+	
 	public static Comparator lettergradeComparator = new Comparator() 
 	{
 		public int compare(Object o1, Object o2) 
@@ -777,4 +804,19 @@
 	 */
 	public String getLowestPossibleGradeForGbItem(final String gradebookUid, final Long gradebookItemId);
 	
+	/**
+	 * 
+	 * @param gradebookUid (non-null)
+	 * @param gradebookItem (non-null) the Assignment object representing the gradebook item for which you are
+	 * setting the points possible (aka relative weight). May be a new gradebook item without
+	 * an id yet.
+	 * @param pointsPossible the points possible/relative weight you would like to validate
+	 * for the gradebookItem above.
+	 * @return {@link PointsPossibleValidation} value indicating the validity of the given
+	 * points possible/relative weight or a problem code defining why it is invalid
+	 */
+	public PointsPossibleValidation isPointsPossibleValid(String gradebookUid, org.sakaiproject.service.gradebook.shared.Assignment gradebookItem, 
+	        Double pointsPossible);
+	   
+
 }