Question

Which choice correctly compares the two numbers?

Answer 1

Answer:

A) 20.82 > 20.55

Step-by-step explanation:

Hopefully, your issue is with the symbols (< vs >) rather than actually determining which number is larger or smaller.

The wide-open end of the symbol (the left side, in the case of >) indicates the larger (more positive) number.

So, the meanings of the symbols are ...

> — "is greater than"

< — "is less than"

The only true statement of those listed is ...

20.82 is greater than 20.55, or 20.82 > 20.55 . . . . selection A

_____

When writing number comparisons, I like to use the < symbol, because it puts the numbers in number-line order. That is, the smaller (or more negative) number is on the left, just as it is on a number line.

You trade the places of the numbers when changing the symbol. For example, answer choice A could be rewritten as ...

20.55 < 20.82

You know that 20.55 is to the left of 20.82 on the number line, so you know this statement is true.