Lesson 6- Comparing Decimals

Objectives

At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

• Identify which decimal is larger or smaller than the other.
• Identify decimals or decimal fractions that are equal.
• Use the signs >, < or = to compare decimals.

Comparing decimals involves identifying which decimal is greater than (>), less than (<) or equal to (=) the other decimal to which it is being compared.With the knowledge of decimal place value, decimals can be compared easily

Example 1

Put in (>, < or =)

a)8.24 _____ 3.89

b) 16.821 _____ 24.102

c) 865.2 ______ 98.75

d) 9.2 ______ 8.4739

Solution

a) 8.24˃3.89

Looking at the whole numbers, 8 is larger than 3, therefore 8.24 is greater than 3.89.

b) 16.821 ˂ 24.102

Comparing whole numbers, 24 is greater than 16, therefore, 16.821 is less than 24.102

c) 865.2˃98.75

865 is greater than 98, therefore, 865.2 is greater.

d) 9.2˃ 8.4739

In this example, one may wonder why the number with a greater number of digits isn’t the greater decimal. However, the number of digits in a decimal does not particularly play any role in comparison if the whole numbers are different. Therefore 9.2 is greater than 8.4739.

Example 2

Compare these:

a)4.2 _____ 4.9

b) 16.25 _____ 16.09

c) 6.182 ______ 6.190

d) 5.241 ______ 5.247

Example 3

Put in >,< or =

a) 8.0 ________ 0.8                           b) 18.5 ______ 2.97

c) 0.9 ________ 0.009                         d) 2.86 ________ 0.97

e) 3  _______ 3.5                                   f) 8 5/10 ________ 8.5

Solution

a) 8.0 ____>____ 0.8                            b) 18.5 ___>___ 2.97

c) 0.9 ____>____ 0.009                       d) 0.97___˂_____ 2.86

e) 3 ____=___ 3.5                                     f) 8 5/10 ____=____ 8.5