Battle of the Decimals: Using Grids for Easy Comparisons
Decimals can sometimes be tricky to compare, especially when they have different numbers of digits after the decimal point. One effective method to compare decimals is by using grids. Grids allow us to visually represent decimals, making it easier to see which one is greater or smaller. Let's dive into this method!

Comparing Decimals Using Grids
Example 1:
Decimals to Compare: \(0.3\) and \(0.25\)
Using a Grid:
Imagine a grid where each row represents a place value: tenths, hundredths, thousandths, and so on.
For \(0.3\):
– Fill in 3 cells in the tenths row.
For \(0.25\):
– Fill in 2 cells in the tenths row.
– Fill in 5 cells in the hundredths row.
By looking at the grid, it’s clear that \(0.3\) fills more cells in the tenths row than \(0.25\), making \(0.3\) greater.
Detailed Answer:
\(0.3 > 0.25\)
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Example 2:
Decimals to Compare: \(0.47\) and \(0.5\)
Using a Grid:
For \(0.47\):
– Fill in 4 cells in the tenths row.
– Fill in 7 cells in the hundredths row.
For \(0.5\):
– Fill in 5 cells in the tenths row.
By looking at the grid, even though \(0.47\) has more filled cells overall, \(0.5\) has more cells filled in the tenths row, making it greater.
Detailed Answer:
\(0.5 > 0.47\)
Using grids to compare decimals offers a visual approach that can be especially helpful for those who are more visually inclined. It’s a great way to understand the relative sizes of decimals and can be a fun activity for students to practice!
Practice Questions:
1. Which is greater: \(0.6\) or \(0.58\)?
2. Compare \(0.72\) and \(0.8\). Which is larger?
3. Determine the larger decimal between \(0.345\) and \(0.35\).
4. Which is smaller: \(0.9\) or \(0.89\)?
5. Compare \(0.123\) and \(0.13\). Which is smaller?
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Answers:
1. \(0.6\)
2. \(0.8\)
3. \(0.35\)
4. \(0.89\)
5. \(0.123\)
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