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11 5 Ordering Decimals

This document provides a method for ordering decimals from smallest to largest using a table. It involves: 1) Setting up a table with the decimal points aligned and filling empty spaces with zeros; 2) Comparing the digits from left to right starting with the units column; 3) The smaller number comes first in ascending order and the larger first in descending order. Two examples are provided to demonstrate ordering decimals in both ascending and descending order using this method.

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153 views5 pages

11 5 Ordering Decimals

This document provides a method for ordering decimals from smallest to largest using a table. It involves: 1) Setting up a table with the decimal points aligned and filling empty spaces with zeros; 2) Comparing the digits from left to right starting with the units column; 3) The smaller number comes first in ascending order and the larger first in descending order. Two examples are provided to demonstrate ordering decimals in both ascending and descending order using this method.

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© © All Rights Reserved
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Ordering Decimals

Ordering decimals can be tricky. Because often we look at 0.42 and 0.402 and say that
0.402 must be bigger because there are more digits. But no!
We can use this method to see which decimals are bigger:

Set up a table with the decimal point in the same place for each number.

Put in each number.

Fill in the empty squares with zeros.

Compare using the first column on the left

If the digits are equal move to the next column to the right until one number wins.

If you want ascending order you always pick the smallest first
If you want descending order you always pick the largest first

Example: Put the following decimals in ascending order:


1.506, 1.56, 0.8
In a table they look like this:
Units

Decimal
Point

Tenths

1
1
0

.
.
.

5
5
8

Hundredths Thousandths

0
6

Fill in the empty squares with zeros:


Units

Decimal
Point

Tenths

Hundredths Thousandths

1
0

.
.

5
8

6
0

0
0

Compare using the first column (Units)


Two of them are "1"s and the other is a "0". Ascending order needs smallest first, and so "0"
is the winner:

Answer so far: 0.8


Now we can remove 0.8 from the list:
Units

Decimal
Point

Tenths

1
1
-

.
.
.

5
5
-

Hundredths Thousandths

0
6
-

6
0
-

Compare the Tenths


Now there are two numbers with the same "Tenths" value of 5, so move along to the
"Hundredths" for the tie-breaker

Compare the Hundredths


One of those has a 6 in the hundredths, and the other has a 0, so the 6 wins. So 1.506 is
less than 1.56:

Answer so far: 0.8, 1.506

Remove 0.506 from the list:


Units

Decimal

Tenths

Hundredths Thousandths

Point

1
-

.
.
.

5
-

6
-

0
-

Only one number left, it must be the largest:

Answer: 0.8, 1.506, 1.56


Done!

Example: Put the following decimals in DESCENDING order:


0.402, 0.42, 0.375, 1.2, 0.85
In a table they look like this:
Units

Decimal
Point

Tenths

0
0
0
1
0

.
.
.
.
.

4
4
3
2
8

Hundredths Thousandths

0
2
7

2
5

And we want to go from highest to lowest (descending).

Fill in the empty squares with zeros:


Units

Decimal

Tenths

Hundredths Thousandths

Point

0
0
0
1
0

.
.
.
.
.

4
4
3
2
8

0
2
7
0
5

2
0
5
0
0

Compare using the first column (Units):


There is a 1, all the rest are 0. Descending order needs largest first, so 1.2 must be the
highest. (Write it down in your answer and cross it off the table).

Answer so far: 1.2


Units

Decimal
Point

Tenths

0
0
0
0

.
.
.
.

4
4
3
8

Hundredths Thousandths

0
2
7
5

2
0
5
0

Compare the Tenths.


The 8 is highest, so 0.85 is next in value.

Answer so far: 1.2, 0.85


Units

Decimal
Point

Tenths

0
0
0
-

.
.
.
-

4
4
3
-

Hundredths Thousandths

0
2
7
-

2
0
5
-

Now there are two numbers with the same "Tenths" value of 4, so move along to the
"Hundredths" for the tie-breaker

One number has a 2 in the hundredths, and the other has a 0, so the 2 wins. So 0.42 is
bigger than 0.402:

Answer so far: 1.2, 0.85, 0.42, 0.402


Units

Decimal
Point

Tenths

0
-

.
-

3
-

Hundredths Thousandths

7
-

5
-

Only 0.375 left, so the answer is:

Answer: 1.2, 0.85, 0.42, 0.402, 0.375

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