How to Compare Decimals

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A decimal is a number that consists of a whole number and a fractional part. To put it in another way, decimals are fractions and mixed numbers with denominators that are powers of 10. For example, the decimal $0.6$ is the same as the fraction ${ 6 \over 10}$ , or the decimal $1.2$ is the same as fraction ${12 \over 10}$ or the mixed number $1{1 \over 5}$ . You can change Fractions and mixed numbers to decimals. For instance, instead of writing $4 \over 5$ you can write $0.8$ . Below are few steps for comparing two decimals:

Steps To compare two decimals:
Step 1: Compare the whole parts first. if the whole part of one decimal is greater, it means that this decimal is greater than the other.
Step 2: But if the whole parts are the same, compare the decimals from the left. (hundreds, tens, ones, tenth, hundredth, etc.)
Step 3: To compare decimals, use the following symbols:
Equal to $=$
Less than $\lt$
Greater than $\gt$
Greater than or equal $\geq$
Less than or equal $\leq$

Example:
$2.67 \gt 0.267$

Free printable Worksheets

Exercises for Comparing Decimals

1) $43.97 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] { } \ 2.83$

2) $58.75 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] { } \ 55.24$

3) $65.5 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] { } \ 42.81$

4) $6.18 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] { } \ 6.18$

5) $199.5 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] { } \ 19.95$

6) $462.7 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] { } \ 46.27$

7) $13.24 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] { } \ 13.29$

8) $789.5 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] { } \ 78.95$

9) $31.43 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] { } \ 31.62$

10) $46.82 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] { } \ 15.66$

Answers

43.97 > 2.83

$43.97 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] {\color{red}{\gt}} \ 2.83$

Solution:
In this example, because the whole number of

43.97

$43.97$ is greater than

2.83

$2.83$ , therefore

43.97 > 2.83

$43.97 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] {\color{red}{\gt}} \ 2.83$

58.75 > 55.24

$58.75 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] {\color{red}{\gt}} \ 55.24$

Solution:
In this example, because the whole number of

58.75

$58.75$ is greater than

55.24

$55.24$ , therefore

58.75 > 55.24

$58.75 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] {\color{red}{\gt}} \ 55.24$

65.5 > 42.81

$65.5 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] {\color{red}{\gt}} \ 42.81$

Solution:
In this example, because the whole number of

65.5

$65.5$ is greater than

42.81

$42.81$ , therefore

65.5 > 42.81

$65.5 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] {\color{red}{\gt}} \ 42.81$

6.18 = 6.18

$6.18 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] {\color{red}{=}} \ 6.18$

Solution:
In this example, because the whole numbers and fractional parts are the same. Therefore they are equal:

6.18 = 6.18

$6.18 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] {\color{red}{=}} \ 6.18$

199.5 > 19.95

$199.5 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] {\color{red}{\gt}} \ 19.95$

Solution:
In this example, because the whole number of

199.5

$199.5$ is greater than

19.95

$19.95$ , therefore

199.5 > 19.95

$199.5 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] {\color{red}{\gt}} \ 19.95$

462.7 > 46.27

$462.7 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] {\color{red}{\gt}} \ 46.27$

Solution:
In this example, because the whole number of

462.7

$462.7$ is greater than

46.27

$46.27$ , therefore

462.7 > 46.27

$462.7 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] {\color{red}{\gt}} \ 46.27$

13.24 < 13.29

$13.24 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] {\color{red}{\lt}} \ 13.29$

Solution
In this example, the whole numbers are the same, therefore we compare the fractional parts. Since the fraction part

0.29

$0.29$ is greater than

0.24

$0.24$ , so

13.24 < 13.29

$13.24 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] {\color{red}{\lt}} \ 13.29$

789.5 > 78.95

$789.5 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] {\color{red}{\gt}} \ 78.95$

Solution:
In this example, because the whole number of

789.5

$789.5$ is greater than

78.95

$78.95$ , therefore

789.5 > 78.95

$789.5 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] {\color{red}{\gt}} \ 78.95$

31.43 < 31.62

$31.43 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] {\color{red}{\lt}} \ 31.62$

Solution
In this example, the whole numbers are the same, therefore we compare the fractional parts. Since the fraction part

0.62

$0.62$ is greater than

0.43

$0.43$ , so

13.43 < 13.62

$13.43 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] {\color{red}{\lt}} \ 13.62$

10)

46.82 > 15.66

$46.82 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] {\color{red}{\gt}} \ 15.66$

Solution:
In this example, because the whole number of

46.82

$46.82$ is greater than

15.66

$15.66$ , therefore

46.82 > 15.66

$46.82 \ \bbox[5px,border:2px solid black] {\color{red}{\gt}} \ 15.66$

How to Compare Decimals