Decimals & Percents · Understand decimals · 1.3

Compare & order.

To compare decimals, line up the decimal points and compare digit by digit from the left. Add trailing zeros so every number has the same number of places.

01 / THE IDEA

See it work.

Watch the method

Compare & order decimals

0.25 < 0.3 < 0.4 — compare the tenths first.

1 / 1
0.3,  0.25,  0.40.3,\; 0.25,\; 0.4
1

Compare place by place

Order from least to greatest by lining up the place values.

0.25<0.3<0.40.25 < 0.3 < 0.4
— / WHY IT WORKS

The idea underneath.

Same places, then compare

Give every number the same number of decimal places (trailing zeros), then it’s just whole-number comparison.

Why it works

0.30 vs 0.25 → 30 hundredths vs 25.

03 / WORKED EXAMPLES

From easy to tricky.

EX 1easy

Order from least to greatest: 0.42, 0.97, 0.28

1

Compare place by place

Order from least to greatest by lining up the place values. 0.28 < 0.42 < 0.97

EX 2medium

Order from least to greatest: 0.42, 0.85, 0.36

1

Compare place by place

Order from least to greatest by lining up the place values. 0.36 < 0.42 < 0.85

EX 3hard

Order from least to greatest: 0.13, 0.60, 0.56

1

Compare place by place

Order from least to greatest by lining up the place values. 0.13 < 0.56 < 0.60

04 / COMMON TRAPS

Where students slip.

Trap

Comparing as if longer = larger.

Fix

0.3 > 0.25; pad to 0.30 to see it.

Trap

Ignoring the tenths place.

Fix

Compare the biggest place first.

05 / QUIZ

Test yourself.

The Test

12 problems across three tiers. Auto-graded on submit. Hints and a full walkthrough on every question. Your work is saved on this device — sign in to keep it across devices.

0/12Answered
How to answerType just the value. Formatting won't trip you up — we ignore spaces, capital letters, commas, and subscript style, so t₁ = 5, d = 3 and t1=5,d=3 both count. For a list of numbers, separate them with commas (e.g. 3, 10, 17).
Core

Core (4)

C1

Order from least to greatest: 0.39, 0.16, 0.14

Need a hint?
  • Pad with trailing zeros.
  • Compare from the left.
C2

Order from least to greatest: 0.95, 0.26, 0.73

Need a hint?
  • Pad with trailing zeros.
  • Compare from the left.
C3

Order from least to greatest: 0.68, 0.15, 0.87

Need a hint?
  • Pad with trailing zeros.
  • Compare from the left.
C4

Order from least to greatest: 0.43, 0.61, 0.72

Need a hint?
  • Pad with trailing zeros.
  • Compare from the left.
Apply

Apply (4)

A1

Order from least to greatest: 0.45, 0.16, 0.70

Need a hint?
  • Pad with trailing zeros.
  • Compare from the left.
A2

Order from least to greatest: 0.66, 0.95, 0.11

Need a hint?
  • Pad with trailing zeros.
  • Compare from the left.
A3

Order from least to greatest: 0.70, 0.62, 0.80

Need a hint?
  • Pad with trailing zeros.
  • Compare from the left.
A4

Order from least to greatest: 0.75, 0.48, 0.15

Need a hint?
  • Pad with trailing zeros.
  • Compare from the left.
Extension

Extension (4)

E1

Order from least to greatest: 0.19, 0.69, 0.49

Need a hint?
  • Pad with trailing zeros.
  • Compare from the left.
E2

Order from least to greatest: 0.11, 0.83, 0.57

Need a hint?
  • Pad with trailing zeros.
  • Compare from the left.
E3

Order from least to greatest: 0.51, 0.79, 0.58

Need a hint?
  • Pad with trailing zeros.
  • Compare from the left.
E4

Order from least to greatest: 0.71, 0.39, 0.35

Need a hint?
  • Pad with trailing zeros.
  • Compare from the left.