Decimal issues

Question

Two decimals are less than 1, and each contains 4 digits to the right of the decimal. Each has a 9 in the tenths place and a 7 in the thousandths place. Explain how you would compare the two.

Answer 1

Lets break this down.  We know the decimals are less than 1.

 

4 digits to the right means the number has a tenths place, hundredths place, thousandths place, and 10-thousandths place in that order.

 

0.9000   and   0.0070

 

 

To compare them, we can write them as fractions.

 

0.9000 = 900 / 1000  ------>    read as 900 thousandths

 

0.0070 = 7 / 1000  ------>      read as 7 thousandths

 

 

Since we have fractions that have the same denominators, just compare the numerators:  7 and 900.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answer 2

compare the digits in the hundredths places

the decimal with the greater digit in the hundredths place is the greater of the two

if the digits in the hundredths places are the same, then you compare the digits in the ten-thousandths places

the decimal with the greater digit in the ten-thousandths place is the greater of the two

if the digits in the ten-thousandths places are the same, then the two decimals are equal