In this activity, we will place measurements in increasing order of size, starting with the smallest.

This is also known as ascending order.

Example

Put the following measurements in order, smallest first.

Answer

To place these in order, we need to look at the digits after the decimal point because all the ones digits are the same.

We have 4.24, 4.02, 4.20, 4.72, 4.46

Notice that 4.2 has become 4.20

Now the numbers are easier to put in order.

4.02 is the smallest because 2/100 is the smallest.

The answer is 4.02 cm , 4.2 cm , 4.24 cm , 4.46 cm , 4.72 cm

Does that make sense?