Grade 4 · Maths · Lessons
Which decimal is bigger?
🔢digits•point🔟tenths💯hundredths
Decimals.The big ideaLine up the places, then compare. Different wholes? Then you can't tell.
How it works
Line up the places, then compare. Start with the tenths.
0.5 is 5 tenths and 0.1 is 1 tenth, so 0.5 is greater.
Different wholes? Then you can't tell.
Example 1: Tenths decide
- Compare 0.5 and 0.1: greater, less or equal?
- 0.5 has 5 tenths. 0.1 has 1 tenth.
- 5 tenths is more than 1 tenth.
- So the answer is > Greater than.
Example 2: Hundredths
- Compare 0.78 and 0.87: greater, less, equal or can't tell?
- The tenths: 7 and 8. 8 is more.
- So 0.78 is less than 0.87.
- So the answer is < Less than.
Example 3: Different wholes
- Compare 0.2 and 0.1: greater, less, equal or can't tell?
- The two wholes are different sizes.
- You can't tell which is bigger.
- So the answer is Can't tell.
Words to know
- tenth
- One of ten equal parts.
- hundredth
- One of one hundred equal parts.
Watch out
- Compare tenths first.
- More digits doesn't make a decimal bigger.
- Check that the wholes are the same.
Try it
- Compare 0.5 and 0.23: greater, less, equal or can't tell?
- Compare 0.87 and 0.9: greater, less, equal or can't tell?
- Compare 0.1 and 0.2: greater, less, equal or can't tell?
Answers: 1. > Greater than · 2. < Less than · 3. Can't tell
For grown-upsCompare prices like $0.78 and $0.87 and ask which is more.