Compare 1/4 and 0.3 Step by Step | Comparing and ordering numbers

Step by step

The question

Question: compare 1/4 and 0.3.

14 and 0.3

1 Write it as a decimal

To compare, we write every number the same way: as a decimal.

A decimal is tenths, hundredths or thousandths.

4 times 25 is 100.

So we multiply the top and the bottom by 25.

25 hundredths is 0.25.

So 1/4 is 0.25.

= 14 = 1 × 254 × 25 = 25100 = 0.25

2 Same number of digits

Zeros at the end of a decimal do not change it: 0.3 is the same as 0.30.

So we give every number 2 digits after the point.

= 0.25, 0.30

3 Compare

Now both have 2 digits after the point.

So we can forget the point and compare them like whole numbers: 25 < 30.

= 0.25 < 0.30

25 < 30

Careful!

More digits does not mean bigger.

Compare 0.25 with 0.30.

Careful: not 0.25 > 0.3 ✗

4 Write the answer

Now with the numbers as they were given: 1/4 < 0.3.

1/4 is less than 0.3.

= 14 < 0.3

5 Check

Let's check on a number line.

Smaller numbers are further to the left.

We put a dot for each number.

From left to right: 1/4, 0.3.

The same order.

So the answer is right!

left to right: same order

Let's look back.

First: write it as a decimal.

Then: same number of digits.

Then: compare.

Then: write the answer.

Last: check.

Answer