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) 24 _____ 3.89

b) 821 _____ 24.102

c) 2 ______ 98.75

d) 2 ______ 8.4739

Solution

a) 24˃3.89

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

b) 821 ˂ 24.102

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

c) 2˃98.75

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

d) 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) 2 _____ 4.9

b) 25 _____ 16.09

c) 182 ______ 6.190

d) 241 ______ 5.247

Solution

Example 3

Put in >,< or =

Solution

Unit 10 Lesson 6: Exercise 1

Compare the following decimals using >, < or =

1) 8.6 _______ 8.9       2) 2.65 ________ 3.65

3) 7.953 ________ 7.928       4) 2.976 _______ 9.5

5) 5.148 ________ 5.142       6) 19.11 _______ 19.28

7) 0.87 ________ 0.09       8) 0.47 ________ 4.07

9) 240.8 ________ 248.0       10) 0.4 ________ 0.41

 

Answers

Unit 10 Lesson 6: Exercise 2

Unit >, < or = to make each statement true.

 

Answers