Comparing Decimals: Which Number is Larger?

Decimal Comparison with Place Value Analysis

Which decimal number is greater?

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Which number is bigger?
00:03 Let's compare the digits between the numbers
00:07 The digit 3 is bigger than 2, therefore this number is bigger
00:12 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

Which decimal number is greater?

2

Step-by-step solution

Let's convert the decimal numbers into simple fractions and compare them:

0.3 is divided by 10 because there is only one digit after the decimal point, therefore:

0.3=310 0.3=\frac{3}{10}

0.29 is divided by 100 because there are two digits after the decimal point, therefore:

0.29=29100 0.29=\frac{29}{100}

Let's now compare the numbers in the denominator to determine our answer:

29100>310 \frac{29}{100}>\frac{3}{10}

Therefore, the larger number is 0.29.

3

Final Answer

0.3 0.3

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Rule: Compare decimals by examining digits in same place values
  • Technique: Convert to equivalent decimals: 0.3 = 0.30 vs 0.29
  • Check: Verify by converting to fractions: 3/10 vs 29/100 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Thinking more digits means larger number
    Don't assume 0.29 is larger than 0.3 because it has more digits = wrong comparison! This ignores place value completely. Always align decimal points and compare digit by digit from left to right.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Are they the same numbers?

\( 0.1\stackrel{?}{=}0.10 \)

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why isn't 0.29 bigger than 0.3 if it has more numbers?

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The number of digits doesn't determine size in decimals! Think of it like money: $0.30 (30 cents) is more than $0.29 (29 cents), even though 29 has more digits than 3.

How do I compare decimals with different numbers of digits?

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Add zeros to make them the same length: 0.3 becomes 0.30. Now you can easily see that 0.30 > 0.29 by comparing the hundredths place (0 vs 9 doesn't matter since 3 > 2 in tenths).

Should I always convert decimals to fractions to compare them?

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Not necessarily! Converting to fractions works, but it's often easier to line up decimal points and compare place by place. Use fractions only when the decimal method feels confusing.

What if the decimals are really long with many digits?

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Start comparing from the leftmost digit after the decimal point. As soon as you find a place where the digits are different, the number with the larger digit in that position is greater!

Why does 0.3 equal 3/10 but 0.29 equals 29/100?

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The denominator depends on the rightmost decimal place:

  • 0.3 has 1 decimal place → tenths → /10
  • 0.29 has 2 decimal places → hundredths → /100

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