Virginia SOL Math / Grade 7 / Number & Number Sense

7.NS.2

Compare & Order Rational Numbers

What you'll learn

  • Compare rational numbers using >, <, and =
  • Order fractions, decimals, and percents from least to greatest
  • Place rational numbers, including negatives, on a number line

Words to know

Rational number —
any number that can be written as a fraction of two integers
Integer —
a whole number or its opposite, with no fraction part
Absolute value —
the distance of a number from zero, always positive or zero
Benchmark —
a familiar value like 0, one half, or 1 used for comparing
Number line —
a line where each point stands for a number

Why it matters Rational numbers include negatives, fractions, decimals, and percents, so comparing them lets us read temperatures, elevations, and prices correctly.

Worked examples

Model ItI do

Order from least to greatest: 0.6, one half, 55 percent.

Rewrite each as a decimal: 0.6, 0.5, and 0.55. Compare: 0.5 < 0.55 < 0.6. So the order is one half, 55 percent, 0.6.

Try It TogetherWe do

Compare negative three fourths and negative 0.7 using >, <, or =.

Write both as decimals: negative 0.75 and negative 0.7. On a number line the number closer to zero is greater, so negative 0.75 < negative 0.7.

Now YouYou do

Order from least to greatest: negative 2, negative one half, 0.25.

Place each value on a number line, then read from left to right. Check your answer in the back of this chapter.

Practice

Mastered 0 of 11

Warm-up

Ease in with the basics.

  1. 1.Write >, <, or = : 0.4 ___ 0.35

  2. 2.Which is greater: negative 3 or 2?

  3. 3.Write one half as a percent.

On Level

The core Quick Check from the book.

  1. 1.Write >, <, or = : 0.8 ___ three fourths

  2. 2.Order from least to greatest: 0.3, one fourth, 20 percent.

  3. 3.Which is greater: negative 5 or negative 8?

  4. 4.Write >, <, or = : 60 percent ___ three fifths

  5. 5.Which is closer to zero: negative 1.2 or 0.9?

Challenge

Stretch your thinking.

  1. 1.Order from least to greatest: negative 0.5, negative three fourths, negative 0.6.

  2. 2.Write >, <, or = : 2 over 3 ___ 65 percent

  3. 3.Order from least to greatest: 0.7, 5 over 8, 68 percent.