Solving the Decimal Mystery

Who knows how to put words in ABC order?

See if you can put these words in ABC order Heat Hear Heart Heap Hear Heart Heat

Well, guess what? Decimals work the same way!

If you use the ABC order method, which decimal is larger? 1.86 or 1.68

Try comparing the numbers They both have a 1 in the ones place.

Now what? In the tenths place, one decimal has an 8 and one has a 6. Which would you say is the bigger decimal?

Of Course! You’re Right! Since 8 is bigger than 6…6… is bigger Than !

You can also put decimals in order using the money method. Now try it this way! Think: Which would you rather have? $1.68 Or $1.86

Absolutely ! $1.86 is more money than $1.68 so it must be a bigger decimal…

Let’s see you try these decimals… Which is the smaller decimal? 1.25 Or 1.15 Hint: Think ABC order or which is less money

Which is the smaller decimal? 1.25 Or 1.15 They both have a 1 in the ones place.

Which is the smaller decimal? 1.25 Or 1.15 One decimal has a 2 in the tenths place and one has a 1 in the tenths place.

Since 1 is less than 2… 1.15 is less than Are you ready for some harder problems?

Now you try it. Put each group of decimals in order from the least to the greatest You can use the ABC method or the money method

Did you get these answers? GRRReat!

Now try this…order these numbers from least to greatest! You can do it! Think ABC or $.

Let’s see how you did… Good Start! Keep It Up! Halfway There! You’ve really got it now! Almost finished! I knew you could do it!

You really are becoming a decimal expert! Now we can go to the computer lab and practice ordering decimals using this site: