How to Compare Decimals
Compare decimals place by place, starting at the left.
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How to do it
- Line up the decimal points.
- Compare the ones, then tenths, then hundredths.
- The first place that is different decides.
Teaching tip
Writing a zero to make decimals the same length helps, like 0.5 = 0.50. This sheet is aligned with Common Core 4.NF.C.6.
About this chart
Why 0.5 is more than 0.45, shown with hundredths grids and a place value chart, and putting 0.6, 0.06 and 0.16 in order.
What kids practice
Decimals are another way to write tenths and hundredths. 7/10 is 0.7 and 23/100 is 0.23. Fourth graders shade tenths and hundredths grids, change tenths to hundredths (6/10 = 60/100), add fractions like 3/10 + 4/100, place decimals on number lines, and compare decimals like 0.5 and 0.45. Money is a great example: $3.45 is 3 dollars and 45 hundredths of a dollar.
Watch for
- Thinking a longer decimal is bigger, like 0.45 > 0.5.
- Writing 5 hundredths as 0.5 instead of 0.05.
- Adding tenths and hundredths without changing them first, like 3/10 + 4/100 = 7/110.
- Lining up decimals by the last digit instead of the decimal point.
It's free to print, as many copies as you need. See the full decimals to hundredths guide for 4th grade.
More sheets in this set
- See it all
1. How to Read and Write DecimalsTenths and hundredths shown on grids and in a place value chart with the matching fractions, 7/10 = 0.7 and 23/100 = 0.23, and why 0.05 needs a zero. 
2. Shade the DecimalTenths strips and 10 × 10 hundredths grids to shade, with the fraction or decimal to finish. More also shows shaded grids to name both ways.
3. Fractions and DecimalsChanging fractions like 7/10 and 23/100 to decimals and back. More adds mixed numbers like 3 45/100 = 3.45.
4. Tenths to HundredthsProblems like 6/10 = 60/100 = 0.60 on graph paper. Fewer shows tenths and hundredths grids, and Standard and More also go from hundredths back to tenths.- See it all
5. How to Add Tenths and Hundredths3/10 + 4/100 worked out with hundredths grids and on graph paper, and why 3/10 + 4/100 is not 7/110. 
6. Add Tenths and HundredthsProblems like 3/10 + 4/100 on graph paper, with a box to change the tenths first. Standard and More mix up the order and use bigger hundredths.
7. Decimals on a Number LineNumber lines from 0 to 1 in tenths and between two tenths in hundredths. More adds number lines from 1 to 2.
9. Compare and Order DecimalsPairs of decimals that look tricky, like 0.7 and 0.07, to compare with <, > or =. More adds sets of four decimals to order.
10. Money as DecimalsBills and coins to count and write as amounts like $3.45 and as 345 hundredths of a dollar. More includes five-dollar bills.