4.3: Comparing Decimals

More About Zeros…

A whole number can have a decimal point and many zeros after it without changing its value.

47 = 47.0 = 47.000 = 47.0000000000000000

Zeros are used to hold a place when we write whole numbers.

  • In 100, the 0s hold the tens place and the ones place.
  • In 1206, the 0 holds the tens place.

In decimals, any zero to the right of the decimal point and to the left of another digit is important because the zero is holding a place and giving the decimal the correct value.

  • In 4.306, the 0 holds the hundredths place.
  • In 17.0002, the 0’s hold the tenth, hundredth and thousandth places.

A zero is usually placed to the left of the decimal point if there is no whole number.

0.5       0.937

Which Zeros Are Not Needed?

  • Zeros at the beginning, or the far left, of whole numbers are not needed.
    • 00004 = 4
    • 00100 = 100
  • Zeros at the end, or the far right, of decimal are not needed.
    • 3.210 = 3.21
    • 34.062000 = 34.062

Zeros on the outside edges of mixed decimals do not change the value of the number and are unnecessary.

  • 0028.9710 = 28.971
  • 00100.003000 = 100.003
  • 890.407 = 00890.4070000000

Exercise 1

Cross out the zeros that are not needed.

  1. 70.0390
  2. 00.2906
  3. 06.30
  4. 087.50
  5. 60.0205
  6. 4 020.0020
  7. 400.080
  8. 340.600
  9. 03.5830
  10. 9.0
  11. 0.002030
  12. 50.300

Exercise 1 Answers

  1. 709.039
  2. 0.2906
  3. 6.3
  4. 87.5
  5. 60.0205
  6. 4 020.002
  7. 400.08
  8. 340.6
  9. 3.583
  10. 9.0
  11. 0.00203
  12. 50.3

Zeros at the end of a decimal do not change the value.

6. = 6.0 = 6.00

Zeros at the beginning of a whole number do not change the value.

8 = 08 = 00008

Zeros between a decimal point and a digit do change the value.

Example A

405 is very different than 45. And 0.05 (five hundredths) is very different than 0.5 (five tenths).

Comparing Decimals

You have probably heard the old saying: “You cannot compare apples to oranges!” and it’s true. It is tough to compare things that do not have much in common. So before we compare decimals, we give the decimals something in common — the same number of decimal places, which gives them a commonly understood denominator.

Before comparing decimals, put zeros at the end or cross out any unnecessary zeros so the decimals have a common (same) number of decimal places. If you write the decimals that you are comparing right underneath each other, your eye will often tell you which is the larger amount or if the amounts are equal.

Example B

Compare 0.43 and 0.4. Which is larger?

Step 1:

  • 0.43 has two decimal places; it is forty-three hundredths  = [latex]\dfrac{43}{100}[/latex].
  • 0.4 has one decimal place; it is four tenths = [latex]\dfrac{4}{10}[/latex].

Step 2: Give them a common number of decimal places.

Step 3: Add a zero to 0.4 to make it 0.40; now we read it as forty hundredths = [latex]\dfrac{40}{100}[/latex].

Now, which is larger?

[latex]\dfrac{40}{100} \text{ or }\dfrac{43}{100}[/latex].

You can easily see that 0.43 is the larger amount.

Review of Greater Than > and Less Than <

An easy way to remember these signs is to think that the big (wide) end of the sign is closer to the bigger (greater) number, and the small end of the sign is closer to the smaller number.

  • 0.43 is larger than 0.40, 0.43 > 0.40
  • 0.52 is smaller than 0.60, 0.52 < 0.60

Exercise 2

Which is greater? Draw a box around the bigger decimal fraction in each pair and write a greater than > or a less than < sign to make a true statement.

Examples:

  • 0.6 < 0.65
  • 14 > 1.4

 

  1. 0.17          0.02
  2. 0.009         0.09
  3. 0.23         0.215
  4. 0.51         0.159
  5. 0.03         0.0352
  6. 0.07         0.063
  7. 630.3         630.03
  8. 0.80         0.6989

Exercise 2 Answers

  1. >
  2. <
  3. >
  4. >
  5. <
  6. >
  7. >
  8. >

Comparing Decimals Using a Number Line

You can compare decimals using a number line. A number line organizes what you are thinking about on paper — or on a ruler. You can plot your decimals on the number line and then be able to see which number is larger. Take a look:

Example C

Step 1: Try to put the following numbers in order without looking at the number line below:

2.347     2.3          2.37        2.33        2.39        2.341       2.41

Step 2: Look at the number line and see if you ordered your numbers correctly (see Figure 4.3.1).

The number line has a jagged edge, which means it does not start at zero. It starts in the middle of a ruler. Using a number line can help you see your work and think about it at the same time.

A number line from 2.29 to 2.42. The numer line is labelled with the following numbers from right to left: 2.3, 2.33, 2.341, 2.347, 2.37, 2.39, 2.41.
Figure 4.3.1

Exercise 3

Try plotting the following decimals on the number line in Figure 4.3.2 below:

4.59       4.32         4.7       5.23       4.47       4.3         4.17

 

a number line range from 4.0 to 5.0
Figure 4.3.2

Exercise 4

And now, plot these numbers on an empty number line (see Figure 4.3.3). (You need to fill in the numbers yourself. Plot 7.3 on the first large vertical line on the left)

7.35   7.3      8.2     7.53      7.98     8.34    7.9   7.5

 

An empty number line.
Figure 4.3.3

This is one way to organize and order decimals, please use it if the system is helpful for you.

Exercise 5

Draw a circle around the smallest decimal fraction in each group.

  1. 0.3,  0.03 ,  0.23
  2. 0.04  ,  0.14,  0.41
  3. 0.016,  0.2,  0.216
  4. 0.62,  0.6103,  0.5
  5. 0.041,  0.04,  0.4
  6. 100.1,  100.13,  100.01

Exercise 5 Answers

  1. 0.03
  2. 0.04
  3. 0.016
  4. 0.5
  5. 0.04
  6. 100.01

Exercise 6

Identify whether the pair of numbers is equal (=) or not equal (≠).

Examples:

  • 0.8 = 0.80
  • 0.25 ≠ 0.205

 

  1. 5.503          5.330
  2. 9.3200          9.32
  3. 0.75          0.750
  4. 23.3          2.33
  5. 0.040          0.40
  6. 0.8010          0.801

Exercise 6 Answers

  1. ≠
  2. =
  3. =
  4. ≠
  5. ≠
  6. =

4.3: Practice Questions

  1. Cross out the unnecessary zeros.
    1. 0401.02
    2. 1 000.001
    3. 68.3020
    4. 050.200

     

  2. Draw a box around the larger amount in each pair.
    1. 0.8 or  0.08
    2. 0.004 or  0.04
    3. 0.006 or  0.6
    4. 33.006 or  33.06

     

  3. Put the correct sign between the decimals. Choose  =  or >  or <.
    1. 2.3          23
    2. 0.2          0.003
    3. 4.7          4.700
    4. 0.25          0.250
    5. 042.9002          042.9
    6. 0.4092          0.411

4.3: Practice Answers

  1. Cross out the unnecessary zeros.
    1. 401.02
    2. 1 000.001
    3. 68.302
    4. 50.2

     

  2. Draw a box around the larger amount in each pair.
    1. 0.8
    2. 0.04
    3.  0.6
    4. 33.06

     

  3. Put the correct sign between the decimals.
    1. <
    2. >
    3. =
    4. =
    5. >
    6. <

Attribution

All figures in this chapter are from Topic C: Comparing Decimals in Adult Literacy Fundamental Mathematics: Book 4 – 2nd Edition by Katherine Arendt, Mercedes de la Nuez, and Lix Girard, via BCcampus.

This chapter has been adapted from Topic C: Comparing Decimals in Adult Literacy Fundamental Mathematics: Book 4 – 2nd Edition (BCcampus) by Katherine Arendt, Mercedes de la Nuez, and Lix Girard (2023), which is under a CC BY 4.0 license.

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