Now that we know how to convert both fractions and decimals into percentages, it's time to play around with them a bit and compare these different types of numbers.

Remember!

The greater than symbol is written as $$> and will have the larger number on the left, for example, $$5>2

The less than symbol is written as $$< and will have the larger number on the right, for example, $$2<5

Ascending order means smallest to largest, for example, $$−2,3,5,8

Descending order means largest to smallest, for example, $$10,5,2,−1

Worked example

Question 1

Compare the numbers $$0.7, $$25% and $$13 and put them in ascending order

Think: How can I put them all in the same form so I can compare them easily?

Do: Let's convert both $$0.7 and $$13 into percentages.

$$0.7×100	$$=	$$70
$$0.7	$$=	$$70%

$$13	$$=	$$3313 $$%

So: $$25% < $$3313% < $$70%

Therefore the ascending order is: $$25%, $$13, $$0.7

Practice questions

QUESTION 2

Arrange $$910, $$40% and $$0.5 in descending order.

First, convert $$910 to a percentage.
Now convert $$0.5 to a percentage.
Which of the following arranges $$910, $$40% and $$0.5 from largest to smallest?
$$40%, $$910, $$0.5
A
$$910, $$0.5, $$40%
B
$$910, $$40%, $$0.5
C
$$0.5, $$40%, $$910
D

QUESTION 3

Consider the values $$71% and $$0.31.

First convert $$0.31 to a percentage.
Select the inequality sign that makes the statement true.

$$71% ? $$0.31

$$=
A
$$>
B
$$<
C

QUESTION 4

Consider the statement:

$$6750 > $$154%

First convert $$6750 to a percentage
Hence, is the statement True or False?
True
A
False
B

QUESTION 5

Consider the following values:

$$71%, $$46, $$841000, $$0.7, $$0.99, $$50.8%

Which has the largest value?
$$71%
A
$$841000
B
$$46
C
$$50.8%
D
$$0.7
E
$$0.99
F
Which has the smallest value?
$$841000
A
$$50.8%
B
$$0.99
C
$$71%
D
$$0.7
E
$$46
F
Which has a value closest to $$0.5?
$$0.99
A
$$46
B
$$50.8%
C
$$0.7
D
$$71%
E
$$841000
F

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6.02 Comparing and ordering fractions, decimals, and percents