Question

Reasoning  Compare the decimals 4.994 and 4.991. Use pencil and paper. Explain how you can use a number line to compare the two values.
Question content area bottom
Part 1
4.994
▼
less than
greater than
equals
4.991

Answer 1

4.994 is greater than 4.991.

Why:
- Place-value comparison: 4 = 4, 0.9 = 0.9, 0.09 = 0.09, but in the thousandths place 0.004 > 0.001, so 4.994 > 4.991.
- Subtraction: 4.994 − 4.991 = 0.003, a positive number, so 4.994 is larger.

Using a number line (pencil and paper):
1. Draw a short line segment and mark 4.99 on the left and 5.00 on the right.
2. Make small equal ticks between 4.99 and 5.00 for thousandths: 4.990, 4.991, 4.992, 4.993, 4.994, 4.995.
3. Put a point at 4.991 (one tick right of 4.99) and a point at 4.994 (four ticks right of 4.99). The point for 4.994 is farther to the right, so it is greater.

Answer to fill: 4.994 greater than 4.991.