Ordering Decimals

Learning Objective — Spec Ref N1:

Order and compare decimals.

You can order decimals by comparing the digits at each place value. Tip: Be careful with
negative numbers
If you have a few numbers, it can help to arrange them — remember they’re
on top of each other, lining up their decimal points. Then always smaller than
compare the digits in each column, working from left to right. positive ones.

Example 2

Put the decimals 8.092, 8.2, 8.09 and 8.9 in order of size, from smallest to largest.
1. Write the numbers on top of each 8.092 8.092 8.090
other and fill in any gaps with 0’s. 8.200 8.090 8.092
Then compare the digits in 8.090 8.200 8.200
each column of the list. 8.900 8.900 8.900

2. The 1st column doesn’t help. In the 2nd, 9 is bigger than 2, and 2 is bigger than 0.
So make a new list with 8.9 at the bottom (as it’s biggest), and 8.2 next up.
3. Then look at the 3rd column in the new list. The two 9’s
don’t help, so move onto the 4th column. 2 is bigger than 0, The correct order is
so swap 8.092 and 8.09 to get the final order. 8.09, 8.092, 8.2, 8.9

Example 3

Put the decimals –1.02, 2.1, 0.12 and –1.2 in order, from lowest to highest.
Compare the negative and positive Comparing the tenths shows –1.2 is less than –1.02
numbers separately, then combine.
Comparing the units shows 0.12 is less than 2.1
With negatives, a larger digit means
that number comes lower in the list. The correct order is: –1.2, –1.02, 0.12, 2.1

Exercise 2
Q1 Write down the larger number in each of the following pairs.
a) 0.3, 0.31 b) 0.09, 0.009 c) 0.427, 0.472 d) 18.07, 17.08

Q2 Put each of the following lists of decimals in order of size, from lowest to highest.
a) 0.02, 0.2, 0.15 b) 0.6, 6.1, –0.6, –6 c) 4.05, 5.04, 5.4, 4.5
d) 1.05, 1.5, –1.5, 1.55 e) 0.61, 0.51, 0.16, 0.15 f) 0.9, –0.05, –0.09, –0.095

14 Section 1 Non-Calculator Arithmetic