Question

Select the answer that correctly orders the set of numbers from greatest to least. 1/8, 36%, 0.85, 0.078

Answer 1

When being given a set of numbers to order, the first thing to check is if they are all in the same format. In this problem, you are given numbers that are both percents, fractions, and decimals. Since there are already two numbers that are decimals, let's change the other two numbers to decimals as well.

To change a fraction to a decimal, divide the number on the top (numerator) by the number on the bottom (denominator). Changing $\frac{1}{8}$ to a decimal would result in 0.125. 

The other number that needs to be changed is the 36%. To change a percent to a decimal, move the decimal point two spaces to the left and remove the percent sign. 36% as a decimal would be 0.36.

So now we have 0.125 ($\frac{1}{8}$), 0.36 (36%), 0.85, and 0.078. Let's put them in order. Find the greatest number by starting in the tenths place (this is the number right after the decimal), which is 0.85. Look for the second largest number in the tenths place, 0.36. Again look in the tenths place for the third number in the order, which is 0.125. The final number is the smallest one, 0.078. To recap, the order from greatest to least is 0.85, 0.36 (36%), 0.125 ($\frac{1}{8}$), 0.078. The correct answer then would be D.