How do you order the rational numbers from least to greatest: 0.11, -1/9, -0.5, 1/10?

2 Answers
Oct 25, 2016

Numbers from least to greatest are {-0.5,-1/9,1/10,0.11}

Explanation:

The easiest way to order rational numbers is to write them so that they are up to same places of decimal.

Here -1/9=-0.11111111111111......, where number 1 repeats endlessly, but other numbers do not last beyond hundredth place (i.e. second place after decimal point), hence we write numbers say upto five places only. Then

0.11=0.11000
-1/9=-0.11111
-0.5=-0.50000
1/10=0.10000

It is apparent that least number is one with negative sign but highest absolute (or numerical) value and among these it is -0.50000 or -0.5, then comes -0.11111=-1/9 and then we positive numbers of which 0.10000=1/10 is least and greatest is 0.11000=0.11.

Hence, numbers from least to greatest are {-0.5,-1/9,1/10,0.11}

Oct 29, 2016

Same thing as Shwetank but different approach using fractions

-0.5"; "-1/9"; "1/10"; "0.11

Explanation:

Note that the word 'least' is like saying 'less than'
There is a big difference between less than and smaller.

-0.5 -=-1/2

-1/9 -> -1/9

0.11-=11/100

1/10-=10/100

Now think of the position on the number line

-1/9 is closer to 0 than is -1/2." " So -1/2 is less than -1/9

(1/10-=color(red)(10/100)) is less than (0.11-=color(red)(11/100))

So we have in order from left to right on the number line:

-1/2"; "-1/9"; "10/100"; "11/100

-0.5"; "-1/9"; "1/10"; "0.11