Comparing Decimals: Which Number Has the Larger Magnitude?

In decimals, place value matters more than digit count! Think of it like money: 2 dimes ($0.20) is worth more than 19 pennies ($0.19), even though 19 is a bigger number than 2.

Add zeros to make them the same length: $0.2 = 0.20$. Now compare: 0.20 vs 0.19. Since 20 > 19 in the hundredths, $0.2 > 0.19$.

Absolutely! Convert both to fractions with the same denominator: $0.19 = \frac{19}{100}$ and $0.2 = \frac{20}{100}$. Since 20 > 19, we know 0.2 > 0.19.

Always line up the decimal points and compare digit by digit from left to right. If one decimal is shorter, imagine zeros at the end to help visualize the comparison.

Yes! $0.3 > 0.299$, $0.5 > 0.499$, and $0.1 > 0.099$. The pattern is that fewer digits doesn't mean smaller value in decimals.