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Grade 4 Math · Level 6, Grade 5 Preview

Bridge: Decimals to Thousandths

How the lesson starts: Bridge: Decimals to Thousandths

1. The Great Snail Race

   Welcome to the Great Snail Race! Shelly slid 0.407 m. Gus slid 0.47 m. Shelly shouts, 407 is bigger than 47, so I win! Is she right? Let's grab our magnifying glass and find out.

2. A place for every digit

   Put both numbers in a place chart. Shelly's 0.407 has three places after the point. Gus's 0.47 has only two. Give Gus a zero at the end: 0.470. A zero at the end doesn't change the value. Now both numbers line up!

3. Compare from the left

   Now compare place by place, starting on the left. Ones: both 0. Tenths: both 4. Hundredths: Shelly has 0, Gus has 7. 0 is less than 7, so 0.407 < 0.47. Gus wins! More digits doesn't mean bigger.