In Grade 5, students compare, order, and plot decimals up to the thousandths, such as deciding whether 0.6 or 0.58 is greater.
The key idea: line up the decimal points and compare place by place from the left. Adding zeros at the end (0.6 = 0.60) makes the comparison easier without changing the value.
Official benchmarkPlot, order and compare multi-digit numbers with decimals up to the thousandths.
On the FAST test: part of the Grade 5 reporting category Number Sense and Operations with Whole Numbers, which is about 23–29% of the test.
Worked Examples
Worked Example 1
Comparing Two Decimals
0.6 and 0.58
1Line up the decimal points: 0.60 and 0.58.
2Compare tenths: 6 tenths is more than 5 tenths.
3So 0.6 > 0.58.
Answer: 0.6 > 0.58
Worked Example 2
Ordering Decimals
2.1, 2.09, 2.15
1Write them with the same number of places: 2.10, 2.09, 2.15.
2Compare hundredths: 9 < 10 < 15.
3Least to greatest: 2.09, 2.1, 2.15.
Answer: 2.09, 2.1, 2.15
Common Mistakes to Watch For
Thinking a longer decimal is bigger
Wrong:0.58 > 0.6
More digits does not mean a greater number. Compare tenths first: 0.6 has 6 tenths, 0.58 has only 5.
Comparing digits that are not lined up
Wrong:3.45 < 3.405
Line up the decimal points: 3.450 and 3.405. Hundredths: 5 > 0, so 3.45 > 3.405.
Helpful Math Tip
Add zeros so every number has the same number of decimal places. Then compare them like whole numbers: 0.60 vs 0.58 is like 60 vs 58.
Independent Educational Platform. FastChomp is published by Tropical Learning LLC and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the Florida Department of Education. FAST and Star assessment names are referenced for informational purposes only. FastChomp practice questions are original educational materials, not official Florida FAST assessment questions.
