How do you put math numbers in order?

Answer 1

To order numbers, starting with the highest place value column (used anywhere on the numbers) compare the digits, moving right a place value column until either all digits have been considered (and if they are all the same then the numbers are equal) or one digit is higher than the other (meaning the number containing that digit is greater than the other). If a place value column is empty (in a number), its digit value is 0.

With negative numbers the ordering is reversed; that is the negative number with the higher absolute value is the lower number. eg consider -10 and -15:

the absolute value of -10 is 10,

the absolute value of -15 is 15,

15 is greater than 10, therefore -15 is less than -10.

But all negative numbers are less than 0.

So when there is a mixture of positive and negative numbers, order each separately and then all the negative numbers are less than all the positive numbers.

Example what is 0.5, 10, -4, -2 in order from least to greatest?

Answer: -4, -2, 0.5, 10

From greatest to least the order would be: 10, 0.5, -2, -4.