Final answer:
To determine which of two decimal numbers is larger, you look at the place value of the first differing digit to the right of the decimal point, starting from the tenths place and moving to hundredths, thousandths, and so on.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking to identify which place value first determines the larger of two decimal numbers. Understanding the concept of place value is essential when comparing decimals. The place values adjacent to the decimal point represent parts of a whole and are as follows:
The 1st place to the right of the decimal point is the tenths place.
The 2nd place is the hundredths place.
The 3rd place is the thousandths place.
The 4th place is the ten thousandths place.
When comparing two decimal numbers, you start from the leftmost digit and move right until you find a digit that differs. The place value of this digit determines which number is larger. Therefore, the answer depends on which place value contains the first differing digit when comparing the two numbers.
For example, if one number has a digit greater than 0 in the tenths place and the other has a 0 in the same tenths place, the first number is larger, because the tenths place has a higher value than all the places to its right.