Compare and order numbers
Objective. Use place value and inequality signs to order integers and decimals.
- 1. Learn
- 2. Worked example
- 3. Practice
- 4. Feedback
- 5. Continue
Learn: the key idea
To compare numbers, look at the highest place-value column first and move right until the digits differ. The inequality signs record the result: < means 'is less than' and > means 'is greater than'; the open side faces the bigger number. For example, 2.08 < 2.8 because 0 tenths is less than 8 tenths. To order a list, compare in this way and write the numbers from smallest to largest (ascending) or largest to smallest (descending).
Worked example
Put these numbers in ascending order: 2.8, 2.08, 2.18, 2.081.
- 1Line up the decimal points and pad with zeros: 2.800, 2.080, 2.180, 2.081.
- 2All have 2 ones, so compare the tenths: 8, 0, 1, 0.
- 3For the two with 0 tenths, compare hundredths then thousandths: 2.080 < 2.081.
- 4Ascending order: 2.08, 2.081, 2.18, 2.8.
Answer: 2.08, 2.081, 2.18, 2.8
Concept mastery
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Practice
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Start practisingCommon mistake. Pupils often compare the digits after the decimal point as whole numbers, deciding 2.08 > 2.8 because 08 looks like more than 8. Line up the points, fill gaps with zeros (2.80) and compare column by column.
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