Decimal Comparison: Find the Symbol Between 1.5 and 1.50

Q: Why does 1.5 equal 1.50 if they look different?

They represent the exact same value! Think of money: $1.50 and $1.5 are both one dollar and fifty cents. The extra zero doesn't add any value, it just shows precision.

Q: When should I add trailing zeros to decimals?

Add zeros when you need to align decimal places for comparison or when following specific formatting rules (like money). Otherwise, 1.5 and 1.50 are equally correct.

Q: How can I be sure two decimals are equal?

Convert them to the same number of decimal places by adding zeros, then compare digit by digit. You can also convert to fractions: $ 1.5 = \frac{15}{10} $ and $ 1.50 = \frac{150}{100} = \frac{15}{10} $

Q: Does this rule work for all decimal numbers?

Yes! You can always add or remove trailing zeros after the decimal point without changing the value. For example: 2.300 = 2.3 = 2.30

Q: What's the difference between 1.5 and 1.05?

These are completely different! 1.5 = 1.50 (five tenths), but 1.05 has zero tenths and five hundredths. The zero's position matters greatly in decimals.

Decimal Equivalence with Trailing Zeros

Fill in the missing sign:

$1.5\text{ }_{—\text{ }}1.50$

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:05 First, choose the right sign for our numbers.

00:08 Now, let's compare each digit, one by one.

00:12 Remember, you can add zeros after the decimal point if needed.

00:16 Here, we see that the numbers are the same.

00:19 And that's how we solve the problem. Great job!

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

Fill in the missing sign:

$1.5\text{ }_{—\text{ }}1.50$

Step-by-step solution

In order to compare which is larger, we'll compare the numbers by adding 0 to 1.5 as follows:

$1.50?1.50$

Note that before the decimal point we have 1 in both numbers

After the decimal point in both numbers we have 5 and then 0

Therefore the numbers are equal to each other and the appropriate sign is:

$1.50=1.50$

Final Answer

$=$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Trailing zeros after decimal points don't change the value
Technique: Convert 1.5 to 1.50 by adding zeros for comparison
Check: Both decimals represent fifteen tenths: 15/10 = 15/10 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Thinking more digits means larger value
Don't assume 1.50 > 1.5 because it has more digits = wrong comparison! More decimal places doesn't mean larger value, just like $1.50 and $1.5 are the same amount of money. Always focus on place value, not digit count.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Reduce the following fraction:

$$ 0.30 $$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why does 1.5 equal 1.50 if they look different?

They represent the exact same value! Think of money: $1.50 and $1.5 are both one dollar and fifty cents. The extra zero doesn't add any value, it just shows precision.

When should I add trailing zeros to decimals?

Add zeros when you need to align decimal places for comparison or when following specific formatting rules (like money). Otherwise, 1.5 and 1.50 are equally correct.

How can I be sure two decimals are equal?

Convert them to the same number of decimal places by adding zeros, then compare digit by digit. You can also convert to fractions: $1.5 = \frac{15}{10}$ and $1.50 = \frac{150}{100} = \frac{15}{10}$

Does this rule work for all decimal numbers?

Yes! You can always add or remove trailing zeros after the decimal point without changing the value. For example: 2.300 = 2.3 = 2.30

What's the difference between 1.5 and 1.05?

These are completely different! 1.5 = 1.50 (five tenths), but 1.05 has zero tenths and five hundredths. The zero's position matters greatly in decimals.

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