Decimal numbers: descending
for 3rd grade

Order decimal numbers in descending order

To arrange decimal numbers in descending order we need to define 2 things:

Decimal numbers

A decimal number has two parts: the whole number part and the decimal part. The whole number part comes before the decimal point, and the decimal part comes after it. For example, in the number 5.32, the whole number part is 5, and the decimal part is 32.

Descending order

To arrange numbers in descending order is to arrange the numbers from biggest on the left to smallest on the right. In descending order, the numbers 3, 2, 4, 1 are 4, 3, 2, 1.

To arrange decimal numbers in descending order, follow these steps.

Step 1: Compare the whole numbers first. When you're trying to arrange decimal numbers, start by comparing their whole number parts. The larger the whole number, the larger the decimal number. For example, 4.1 is bigger than 3.8 because 4 is bigger than 3.

Step 2: Compare decimal parts if the whole numbers are equal. If two decimal numbers have the same whole number part, then you need to compare their decimal parts. Look at each digit in the decimal part, starting from the left, and compare them. The larger the digit, the larger the decimal number.

For example, let's compare 4.09 and 4.15: The first digits are 0 (from 4.09) and 1 (from 4.15). Since 1 is bigger than 0, 4.15 is bigger than 4.09 even though it's second digit is smaller.

Let's arrange these numbers in descending order: 3.6, 1.15, 3.45, 1.80, 2.2.

First, arrange them by whole number parts: 3.6, 3.45, 2.2, 1.15, 1.80.

Now, compare the decimal parts of numbers with the same whole number part: 1.80 is bigger than 1.15, and 3.6 is bigger than 3.45.

The correct descending order is: 3.6, 3.45, 2.2, 1.80, 1.15.