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Compare and order decimals

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Intros
Lessons
  1. Introduction to Comparing and Ordering Decimals:
  2. How to compare two decimal numbers
  3. How to order a list of decimal numbers
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Examples
Lessons
  1. Comparing decimals using base ten (block) models
    Write the decimal value represented by each base ten (block) model. Circle the greater value.
    1. Compare and Order Decimals
    2. Compare and Order Decimals
    3. Compare and Order Decimals
  2. Comparing decimals using place value digits
    Fill out the value of digits for each decimal. Circle the lesser value.
    1. Compare and Order Decimals
    2. Compare and Order Decimals
    3. Compare and Order Decimals
    4. Compare and Order Decimals
  3. Comparing decimals in a list
    Compare the decimal numbers in the list and answer.
    1. Which number is the biggest?
      6.05, 50.6, 60.5, 56.0
    2. Which number is the biggest?
      8.72, 7.28, 8.27, 7.82
    3. Which number is the smallest?
      34.9, 39.4, 9.34, 4.93
    4. Which number is the smallest?
      10.62, 6.12, 16.02, 6.21
  4. Ordering decimals
    Order the decimals in the specified order using > or < symbols
    1. Descending order (greatest to least)
      1.2, 1.5, 1.0, 1.1
    2. Ascending order (least to greatest)
      4.83, 4.75, 4.82, 4.79
    3. Descending order (greatest to least)
      6.1, 6.9, 6.95, 6.02
    4. Ascending order (least to greatest)
      5.09, 3.71, 5.6, 4.4
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Practice
Topic Notes
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In this lesson, we will learn:

  • How to compare the value of two decimal numbers
  • How to order a list of decimals in ascending and descending order

Notes:

  • To compare two decimal numbers, we want to know how big or small the values are
    • We use these symbols to compare numbers:
Compare and Order Decimals

  • We can compare using number lines:Compare and Order Decimals

  • We can also compare using base ten (block) models: Compare and Order Decimals

  • The steps for comparing two numbers:
    1. Start with the biggest (left) place value.
    2. Is the digit in this place value different between the two numbers?
      1. YES: compare the digit (0 = smallest, 9 = biggest).
      2. NO: move to the next smaller place value (right) and repeat step 2.
    3. If all digits are the same in both numbers, they are equal.
Compare and Order Decimals

    • Once you have found a difference for a place value, it does not matter what numbers are in the places further on the right (smaller places)
      • i.e. recall equivalent decimal tenths and hundredths 0.8=0.80
      • ex. 8.9 > 8.79 (more decimal place values does not necessarily make the value greater)

  • There are two ways to order a list of decimals:
    • Ascending order: which means from least to greatest
      • increasing; smallest to biggest (ex. 1.1 < 1.2 < 1.3 < 1.4)
    • Descending order: which means from greatest to least
      • decreasing; biggest to smallest (ex. 1.4 > 1.3 > 1.2 > 1.1)