Decimal Number Comparison: Determining Greater Value

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
00:17 The digit 3 is bigger than 0, therefore this number is bigger
00:20 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 first 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}

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

0.33=33100 0.33=\frac{33}{100}

Let's now compare the numbers in the denominator:

33100>310 \frac{33}{100} > \frac{3}{10}

Therefore, the larger number is 0.33.

3

Final Answer

0.33 \text{0}.33

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Rule: Compare decimals by converting to common denominators or place values
  • Technique: Convert 0.3=30100 0.3 = \frac{30}{100} and 0.33=33100 0.33 = \frac{33}{100} to compare
  • Check: Verify 33100>30100 \frac{33}{100} > \frac{30}{100} means 0.33 > 0.3 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Thinking more digits always means smaller value
    Don't assume 0.3 > 0.33 because 3 > 33 = wrong comparison! This ignores place value positions completely. Always consider the actual decimal place values, not just the number of digits.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Which decimal number is greater?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why isn't 0.3 bigger than 0.33 since 3 is bigger than 33?

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Great question! You're thinking about whole numbers, but decimals work differently. 0.3 means 3 tenths, while 0.33 means 33 hundredths. When we convert to compare: 0.3 = 30 hundredths, and 33 > 30!

How can I compare decimals without converting to fractions?

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You can line up the decimal points and add zeros to make them the same length: 0.30 vs 0.33. Now compare digit by digit from left to right - the first different digit tells you which is larger!

What's the easiest way to remember this?

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Think of money! 0.30is30cents</strong>and<strong>0.30 is 30 cents</strong> and <strong>0.33 is 33 cents. You'd rather have 33 cents than 30 cents, right? Same with decimals - 0.33 > 0.3.

Do I always need to convert to fractions?

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Not always! Converting to fractions helps you understand why one decimal is bigger. But you can also compare by making both decimals have the same number of decimal places.

What if the decimals have many different digits?

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The same rules apply! Start comparing from the leftmost digit after the decimal point. The first position where the digits differ tells you which decimal is larger.

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