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Classroom · Decimals · 4th and 5th grade

Comparing decimals worksheets

A free five-page pack for 4th and 5th grade: learn to compare and order decimals, with a worked example, practice pages, word problems and an answer key.

Download the comparing decimals pack(5 pages, color)Ink saver (B&W)

Watch it solved

54 sec · with voice and captions

A pencil works one example of each activity, so you can see how the worksheet goes before you print it. Tap a step to jump to it. The rest of the sheet is left for your child to finish.

Read what the video says
  1. 0:00 Let's practice comparing decimals, step by step.
  2. 0:04 Line up the decimal points, and compare from the left: ones, then tenths, then hundredths. 0.5 is the same as 0.50, which is more than 0.45.
  3. 0:18 Compare 9.2 and 9.70. Give them the same places: 9.20 and 9.70. So 9.2 < 9.70.
  4. 0:32 Word problems. Ben jumped 1.45 meters and Aisha jumped 1.5 meters. Who jumped farther? The answer is Aisha, because 1.5 > 1.45.
  5. 0:47 Great job! Now print the free worksheet, and finish the rest on your own.

How to do it

Line up the decimal points and compare from the left: ones, then tenths, then hundredths. Add a zero to make the places match: 0.5 = 0.50, which is more than 0.45.

Teaching tip

A common mistake is thinking a longer decimal is bigger (0.45 > 0.5). Writing both with two places, 0.45 and 0.50, clears it up.

Try some

  • 4.19 ? 1.27Tap to check
  • 9.2 ? 9.70Tap to check
  • 1.0 ? 1.00Tap to check
  • 3.1 ? 3.20Tap to check
  • 3.10 ? 9.64Tap to check
  • 8.8 ? 8.80Tap to check
  • 2.24 ? 7.28Tap to check
  • 8.9 ? 8.41Tap to check

Word problems

Ben jumped 1.45 meters and Aisha jumped 1.5 meters. Who jumped farther?Show answer

Aisha (1.5 > 1.45)

An apple weighs 0.32 pounds. A pear weighs 0.3 pounds. Which is heavier?Show answer

the apple (0.32 > 0.30)

Order these race times from fastest to slowest: 12.8 s, 12.08 s, 12.5 s.Show answer

12.08, 12.5, 12.8

Which is closer to 1: 0.9 or 0.99?Show answer

0.99

What the worksheets look like

Comparing decimals worksheet: how decimals work, then a first practice
Page 1: how decimals work, then a first practice
Comparing decimals worksheet: shade, expand, compare or add
Page 2: shade, expand, compare or add

Hundred grids

Six blank 10 by 10 grids to shade any decimal.

Template(1 page, color)Ink saver (B&W)

Common questions

How do you teach comparing decimals?

Line up the decimal points and compare from the left: ones, then tenths, then hundredths. Add a zero to make the places match: 0.5 = 0.50, which is more than 0.45. A common mistake is thinking a longer decimal is bigger (0.45 > 0.5). Writing both with two places, 0.45 and 0.50, clears it up.

What grade learns comparing decimals?

Usually 4th and 5th grade. In the Common Core it is part of 4.NF.C.7, 5.NBT.A.3b.

Is there an answer key?

Yes. Page 5 has every answer from the pack and a short teaching tip.