Section 2-7, “Comparing and Ordering

Rational and Irrational Numbers”

A RATIONAL NUMBER is a number that can be

written as a fraction with an integer for its
numerator and a nonzero integer for its
denominator.

1 3 12 3 2
1
2 5 1 4 5
 “Rational Numbers”
Rational Numbers Rational Numbers
numbers that can
Integers represented as a
Integers ratio or fraction
-3,-2,-1, 0,1,2,3…
a
,b  0
Whole Numbers b
Whole Numbers
0,1,2,3,4,5…
 What Do You See?
“EQUIVALENT FRACTIONS”

1 2 3
5 10 15

4 6 10
20 30 50
 Compare the Following Fractions by
finding the LCD
1 2 1 7 2 8 1 2
4 7

4 28

7 28 4
< 7

5 1 5 5 1 4 5 1
12 3
 
12 12 3 12 12 > 3

2 3 2 4 3 9 2 3
 
6 4 6 12 4 12 6 < 4
 Compare the Following Fractions by
converting to decimals
1 2 1 2 1 2
4 7 4
 0.25  0.28
7 4
< 7

5 1 5 1 5 1
12 3 12
 0.41  0.33
3 12 > 3

2 3 2 3 2 3
 0.33  0.75
6 4 6 4 6 < 4
 “Comparing Decimals”
To compare decimals, line up the decimal points and
compare the digits from left to right until you find the place
where the digits are different.

Compare the fractions. Write < or >. Compare the fractions. Write < or >.

0.81 < 0.84 0.34 > 0.342

0.81 0.343
4 is greater than 1, 3 is greater than 2,
so 0.84 is greater so 0.34 is greater
0.84 than 0.81 0.342 than 0.342
 Order the Numbers from Least to Greatest

0.7011, 0.7, 0.71, 0.70, 0.7

Line up numbers by Write all decimals in Place numbers in
the decimal point the same place value order from least to
greatest

0.7011 0.7011 0.7

0.7 0.7000
0.7 0.7011
0.71 0.7100
0.71 0.70
0.70 0.7070
0.70 0.71
0.7 0.7777
0.7 0.7
 Using a Number Line
Plot the numbers on a number line. Then order them from least to greatest.

2 5 3
, 0.2, 0.67, ,
5 8 2

0.4, 0.2, 0.67, 0.625, 1.5

0 0.2 0.4 0.5 0.625 0.67 1 1.5

In order them from least to greatest.

2 5 3
0.2, , , 0.67,
5 8 2
 F D
Using a Number Line
Plot the numbers on a number line. Then order them from least to greatest.

1 3 2
, 0.21, , 0.85,
3 5 3

0.3, 0.21, 0.6, 0.85, 0.6,

0.21 0.3
0 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.85 1 1.5

In order them from least to greatest.

1 3 2
0.21, , , , 0.85
3 5 3