The Comparing decimals and fractions exercise appears under the 4th grade (U.S.) Math Mission. This exercise practices various ways of comparing the relative size of decimals and fractions.
Types of Problems[]
There are three types of problems in this exercise:
- Compare the decimal and fraction directly: This problem provides a decimal and a fraction. The user is asked to select the correct comparison symbol that indicates which is larger (or if they are the equal).
Compare the decimal and fraction directly
- Select the representations that compare to the given: This problem provides a target value and several others decimals and/or fractions. The user is asked to select all of the values that compare as required to the target value.
Select the representations that compare to the given
- Put the numbers in order: This problem provides several tiles that have decimals, fractions, and words that represent numbers. The user is asked to put the numbers in a specific order.
Put the numbers in order
Strategies[]
Knowledge of the meaning of decimal places and an ability to think geometrically are encouraged to ensure success on this exercise.
- Decimals are meant to be compared by the first different digit when reading left to right.
- The geometric manipulatives may be useful, but are not required to get the answers to this exercise.
- The first option is <, the second is >, and the third is =. This knowledge and that "tab" key can increase efficiency on Compare the decimal and fraction directly.
- The specified order will always be increasing, that is, least to greatest.
Real-life Applications[]
- Fractions are used in real life in many different ways, but they are most commonly used in the cooking, construction and science industries.
- Comparing decimals efficiently has many uses in science and math, especially as a tool for finding approximations and checking answers.
- Decimals are very common in shopping. Price tags, food labels, and receipts all contain decimals.
- At gas pumps, decimals are used to show how much gas is pumped and much it costs per gallon.