Order Decimals: Smallest Numbers First

In this activity we will learn to arrange decimal numbers in order, smallest first.

 

We are going to be comparing and ordering decimal numbers with one decimal place.

 

Look at this set of numbers.

7.1    2.3    6.0    2.2    6.4

 

Firstly, we compare the numbers by how many ones they have.

2.3 and 2.2 both have two ones. These will be the smallest numbers.

 

Now, we can compare these numbers by how many tenths they have.

2.2 has two tenths and 2.3 has three-tenths.

So, 2.2 is the smallest number.

 

Next, we can compare 6.0 and 6.4 in the same way. They both have six ones.

6.0 has zero tenths and 6.4 has four-tenths.

So, 6.0 is smaller than 6.4.

 

Lastly, that leaves us with 7.1, which has seven ones. This is the largest number.

 

So, the numbers in order are: 

2.2    2.3    6.0    6.4    7.1

 

Now try an example question:

 

Example

Put these numbers in order, smallest first.

9.3    1.6    5.0    1.2    5.7

 

Answer

First, we look for numbers with the smallest ones digits.

Here we have two, 1.6 and 1.2 so we must compare the tenths digits to see that 1.2 is less than 1.6.

 

The next numbers to look at are 5.0 and 5.7.  We see that 5.0 is worth less than 5.7.

 

Finally, 9.3 is largest.

 

So the final order is 1.2 , 1.6 , 5.0 , 5.7 , 9.3

 

Now you're ready to try some more questions. Good luck!