Compare Decimals by the First Unequal Place

Supplied materials

• Paper and a pencil; drawing and spoken explanations are welcome. An adult may read directions and options aloud.
• Supplied worked-case record: Compare 3.09 and 3.087.
• All quantities and shape descriptions are supplied in the worked example and questions; no purchase or personal information is needed.

Learn the idea

Decimal comparison uses equally sized places from left to right. Add trailing zeros to align notation without changing value. Compare whole parts first, then tenths, hundredths, and thousandths. A longer written decimal need not be larger because its final digits can represent very small amounts.

Align both numbers through thousandths. Find the first unequal place and use it to determine order. State the compared values in a common place unit if helpful and explain why trailing zeros preserve the quantity.

Trailing zeros can align equal places. Do not compare decimal strings by digit count. Put both decimals in one aligned place-value chart.

1. Put both decimals in one aligned place-value chart.
2. Follow the worked example. Point to each number or shape feature and say what it tells you.
3. Align both numbers through thousandths.
4. Try the question and then the three practice questions. Check your answers and explain any change you make.

Check your reasoning

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Take it further

Compare 5.050 and 5.05. Expected: equal.

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