Question

List these numbers from least to greatest: -1 2/5, 0, -2.3, 3/4, and -1 9/10

Answer 1

Answer:

-2.3, -1 9/10, -1 2/5, 0, 3/4.

Step-by-step explanation:

First thing we need to do is express all of the fractions and the decimal in the same unit.

Let's turn the decimal into a fraction.

-2.3 = -2 3/10. The 3 is in the tenths place, so that means 3 over 10 or 3/10. The 2 is in the ones place so we get the 2 as a whole number.

Okay, now we need to express the fractions with the same denominator. You MUST do this if you are going to compare fractions.

First,

let's turn all the mixed numbers into improper fractions.

-1 2/5 = -7/5

-2 3/10 = -23/10

-1 9/10 = -19/10.

The last 2 already have the same denominator of 10, so we'll just change the -7/5 to have a denominator of 10. 5 x 2 equals 10, so we MUST also multiply by the numerator by 2. Whatever is done to the denominator has to be done to the numerator as well.

5 x 2 = 10

7 x 2 = 14.

Now, here is what we have.

-14/10, 0, -23/10, 3/4, -19/10.

First, know that negative numbers are ALWAYS SMALLER than zero and ANY positive number.

And, with negative numbers, the number that looks "greater" is actually lesser. For example, -5 is greater than -3 because -3 is closer to 0.

So, let's compare the negative fractions.

-14/10, -23/10, -19/10.

Ignoring the (-) the one that *looks* greatest is 23 because it has the greatest number in the numerator, however, because this is negative numbers, it's actually the smallest.

Second "biggest" is -19/10 but again, this is negatives, so its actually second smallest.

The only number now is -14/10 so that's the next smallest.

0 is obviously less than 3/4 so 0 comes next. And lastly, 3/4 is the only number we have left! so, 3/4 is the greatest!

LEAST TO GREATEST:

-2.3, -1 9/10, -1 2/5, 0, 3/4.