Question

Josiah was ordering the following rational in math class: - 3.8, -12, and -6 2/5 and got a bit confused.

a) Help Josiah place the numbers in order from least to greatest.

b) Now, help him list them in order from least to greatest based upon their absolute values.

c) Finally, explain why the orderings from parts a and b are different.

Answer 1

a) -12, -6 2/5, -3.8
b) 3.8, 6 2/5, 12
c) Because negative numbers have different values than absolute values(positive numbers)