Step-by-step Maths Level 5: Comparing and ordering decimals to tenths
Part of the Step-by-step Maths Level 5 place value to a million and decimals to tenths chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Comparing and ordering decimals to tenths
Compare the whole numbers first. If they are the same, compare the tenths digits.
The number with more tenths is the greater one, even if it has fewer digits after the point.
Key ideas
- Compare the whole numbers first.
- If the whole numbers match, compare the tenths.
- Write the list in order from the smallest.
Method. Compare the whole numbers, then the tenths.
- Compare the whole numbers first. The bigger whole number is the bigger decimal.3 and 3
- If the whole numbers are the same, compare the tenths. The tenths digit decides when the whole numbers match.7 and 4 tenths
- Choose the greater decimal. This is the decimal with more of the bigger part.3.7
Check. Check: 3.7 is 37 tenths, and 3.4 is 34 tenths.
Watch out. 3.7 is greater than 3.4, not smaller. Compare the tenths: 7 tenths is more than 4 tenths.
Method. Compare the whole numbers first, then the tenths.
- Compare the whole numbers. Put the numbers with the smallest whole number first.4, 3, 4, 3
- Compare the tenths when the whole numbers match. Use the tenths digit to break a tie.4.2, 3.9, 4.1, 3.6
- Write the list smallest first. Read the order from the smallest to the largest.3.6, 3.9, 4.1, 4.2
Check. Check: the first number is the smallest and the last is the greatest.
Watch out. Do not order by the number of digits after the point. 4.2 is greater than 3.9.
Method. Turn both numbers into tenths, then choose any tenths number between them.
- Write both numbers in tenths. Count how many tenths each number has.3.2 = 32 tenths and 3.5 = 35 tenths
- Find the tenths in between. Any number of tenths strictly between them works.3.3 or 3.4
- Write an answer. Each is between the two numbers, so each is correct.Accept any of 3.3 or 3.4
Check. Check: each choice is greater than 3.2 and less than 3.5.
Watch out. Do not choose the same number as one of the two numbers in the question. It must be strictly between.
Watch out
Watch out. 3.7 is greater than 3.4. Do not think that 4 is bigger than 7 because the number is smaller.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask: “Which is bigger, 4.2 or 3.9? How do you know?” The whole number decides first.
Exercise 1E Practice: comparing and ordering tenths
Non-calculatorMethod. Compare the whole numbers, then the tenths.
- Compare the whole numbers first. The bigger whole number is the bigger decimal.9 and 2
- If the whole numbers are the same, compare the tenths. The tenths digit decides when the whole numbers match.3 and 9 tenths
- Choose the greater decimal. This is the decimal with more of the bigger part.9.3
Check. Check: 9.3 is 93 tenths, and 2.9 is 29 tenths.
Watch out. 3.7 is greater than 3.4, not smaller. Compare the tenths: 7 tenths is more than 4 tenths.
Method. Turn both numbers into tenths, then choose any tenths number between them.
- Write both numbers in tenths. Count how many tenths each number has.8.5 = 85 tenths and 8.8 = 88 tenths
- Find the tenths in between. Any number of tenths strictly between them works.8.6 or 8.7
- Write an answer. Each is between the two numbers, so each is correct.Accept any of 8.6 or 8.7
Check. Check: each choice is greater than 8.5 and less than 8.8.
Watch out. Do not choose the same number as one of the two numbers in the question. It must be strictly between.
Method. Compare the whole numbers first, then the tenths.
- Compare the whole numbers. Put the numbers with the smallest whole number first.2, 2, 3, 2
- Compare the tenths when the whole numbers match. Use the tenths digit to break a tie.2.7, 2.1, 3.4, 2.4
- Write the list smallest first. Read the order from the smallest to the largest.2.1, 2.4, 2.7, 3.4
Check. Check: the first number is the smallest and the last is the greatest.
Watch out. Do not order by the number of digits after the point. 4.2 is greater than 3.9.
Method. Turn both numbers into tenths, then choose any tenths number between them.
- Write both numbers in tenths. Count how many tenths each number has.4.2 = 42 tenths and 4.7 = 47 tenths
- Find the tenths in between. Any number of tenths strictly between them works.4.3 or 4.4 or 4.5 or 4.6
- Write an answer. Each is between the two numbers, so each is correct.Accept any of 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 or 4.6
Check. Check: each choice is greater than 4.2 and less than 4.7.
Watch out. Do not choose the same number as one of the two numbers in the question. It must be strictly between.
Method. Compare the whole numbers first, then the tenths.
- Compare the whole numbers. Put the numbers with the smallest whole number first.2, 4, 4, 1
- Compare the tenths when the whole numbers match. Use the tenths digit to break a tie.2.0, 4.3, 4.1, 1.1
- Write the list smallest first. Read the order from the smallest to the largest.1.1, 2.0, 4.1, 4.3
Check. Check: the first number is the smallest and the last is the greatest.
Watch out. Do not order by the number of digits after the point. 4.2 is greater than 3.9.
Method. Compare the whole numbers, then the tenths.
- Compare the whole numbers first. The bigger whole number is the bigger decimal.9 and 2
- If the whole numbers are the same, compare the tenths. The tenths digit decides when the whole numbers match.7 and 3 tenths
- Choose the greater decimal. This is the decimal with more of the bigger part.9.7
Check. Check: 9.7 is 97 tenths, and 2.3 is 23 tenths.
Watch out. 3.7 is greater than 3.4, not smaller. Compare the tenths: 7 tenths is more than 4 tenths.
Method. Compare the whole numbers first, then the tenths.
- Compare the whole numbers. Put the numbers with the smallest whole number first.1, 5, 1, 5
- Compare the tenths when the whole numbers match. Use the tenths digit to break a tie.1.5, 5.4, 1.9, 5.3
- Write the list smallest first. Read the order from the smallest to the largest.1.5, 1.9, 5.3, 5.4
Check. Check: the first number is the smallest and the last is the greatest.
Watch out. Do not order by the number of digits after the point. 4.2 is greater than 3.9.
Method. Turn both numbers into tenths, then choose any tenths number between them.
- Write both numbers in tenths. Count how many tenths each number has.1.5 = 15 tenths and 2.1 = 21 tenths
- Find the tenths in between. Any number of tenths strictly between them works.1.6 or 1.7 or 1.8 or 1.9 or 2.0
- Write an answer. Each is between the two numbers, so each is correct.Accept any of 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9 or 2.0
Check. Check: each choice is greater than 1.5 and less than 2.1.
Watch out. Do not choose the same number as one of the two numbers in the question. It must be strictly between.
Method. Turn both numbers into tenths, then choose any tenths number between them.
- Write both numbers in tenths. Count how many tenths each number has.1.2 = 12 tenths and 1.4 = 14 tenths
- Find the tenths in between. Any number of tenths strictly between them works.1.3
- Write an answer. Each is between the two numbers, so each is correct.Accept any of 1.3
Check. Check: each choice is greater than 1.2 and less than 1.4.
Watch out. Do not choose the same number as one of the two numbers in the question. It must be strictly between.
Method. Compare the whole numbers, then the tenths.
- Compare the whole numbers first. The bigger whole number is the bigger decimal.1 and 4
- If the whole numbers are the same, compare the tenths. The tenths digit decides when the whole numbers match.1 and 4 tenths
- Choose the greater decimal. This is the decimal with more of the bigger part.4.4
Check. Check: 4.4 is 44 tenths, and 1.1 is 11 tenths.
Watch out. 3.7 is greater than 3.4, not smaller. Compare the tenths: 7 tenths is more than 4 tenths.
Method. Turn both numbers into tenths, then choose any tenths number between them.
- Write both numbers in tenths. Count how many tenths each number has.4.9 = 49 tenths and 5.2 = 52 tenths
- Find the tenths in between. Any number of tenths strictly between them works.5.0 or 5.1
- Write an answer. Each is between the two numbers, so each is correct.Accept any of 5.0 or 5.1
Check. Check: each choice is greater than 4.9 and less than 5.2.
Watch out. Do not choose the same number as one of the two numbers in the question. It must be strictly between.
Method. Turn both numbers into tenths, then choose any tenths number between them.
- Write both numbers in tenths. Count how many tenths each number has.4.5 = 45 tenths and 4.7 = 47 tenths
- Find the tenths in between. Any number of tenths strictly between them works.4.6
- Write an answer. Each is between the two numbers, so each is correct.Accept any of 4.6
Check. Check: each choice is greater than 4.5 and less than 4.7.
Watch out. Do not choose the same number as one of the two numbers in the question. It must be strictly between.
Method. Compare the whole numbers first, then the tenths.
- Compare the whole numbers. Put the numbers with the smallest whole number first.5, 4, 7, 8
- Compare the tenths when the whole numbers match. Use the tenths digit to break a tie.5.2, 4.8, 7.5, 8.6
- Write the list smallest first. Read the order from the smallest to the largest.4.8, 5.2, 7.5, 8.6
Check. Check: the first number is the smallest and the last is the greatest.
Watch out. Do not order by the number of digits after the point. 4.2 is greater than 3.9.
Method. Turn both numbers into tenths, then choose any tenths number between them.
- Write both numbers in tenths. Count how many tenths each number has.4.5 = 45 tenths and 4.8 = 48 tenths
- Find the tenths in between. Any number of tenths strictly between them works.4.6 or 4.7
- Write an answer. Each is between the two numbers, so each is correct.Accept any of 4.6 or 4.7
Check. Check: each choice is greater than 4.5 and less than 4.8.
Watch out. Do not choose the same number as one of the two numbers in the question. It must be strictly between.
Method. Turn both numbers into tenths, then choose any tenths number between them.
- Write both numbers in tenths. Count how many tenths each number has.7.0 = 70 tenths and 7.4 = 74 tenths
- Find the tenths in between. Any number of tenths strictly between them works.7.1 or 7.2 or 7.3
- Write an answer. Each is between the two numbers, so each is correct.Accept any of 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3
Check. Check: each choice is greater than 7.0 and less than 7.4.
Watch out. Do not choose the same number as one of the two numbers in the question. It must be strictly between.
Method. Compare the whole numbers first, then the tenths.
- Compare the whole numbers. Put the numbers with the smallest whole number first.3, 3, 1, 1
- Compare the tenths when the whole numbers match. Use the tenths digit to break a tie.3.9, 3.8, 1.8, 1.2
- Write the list smallest first. Read the order from the smallest to the largest.1.2, 1.8, 3.8, 3.9
Check. Check: the first number is the smallest and the last is the greatest.
Watch out. Do not order by the number of digits after the point. 4.2 is greater than 3.9.