Download The Rational Numbers - StCeciliaHonorsMath

Compare and Order
Rational Numbers
Honors Math – Grade 7
Problem of the Day
An organic vegetable farmer compared the total monthly
amount of rainfall at his farm to the monthly totals from the
previous year. He recorded the following differences in
monthly amounts from April to August, respectively, for the
current year compare to the previous year:
3 1
1
 6 ,1 ,1.8,  2 ,  0.75
8 2
4
Which month had the greatest gain in rainfall from the
previous year?
A number line can be very helpful when comparing and
ordering rational numbers.
To compare two rational numbers on a number line, the
number farther to the right is the greater number.
1
1 _____ 1.8
2
June had the
greater rainfall.
To order rational number on the number line:
Least to greatest – Begin with the number farthest to the left.
Greatest to least – Begin with the number farthest to the right.
From least to greatest…
From greatest to least…
To compare and order decimals, use the same rules for ordering
and comparing integers.
Write in order from least to greatest: 2.05, -25, -2.5, 0.205
To compare and order fractions, first write equivalents using the
LCD, and then compare and order the numerators.
Write in order from greatest to least:
2 3 73
6 ,6 ,
3 4 12
To compare a fraction with unlike denominators, you can also use
the Cross-Products Rule. (CPR)
7
5
_____
9
7
6
2
_____
11
9
Write in order from least to greatest.
4 7 3
 , ,
5 10 4
1
7
 3.3,  3 , 3.3, 
3
2
Compare. Write <, =, or >.
6.02 _____ 6.02
5
3
2 _____ 2
11
14