classmate ordered these numbers from greatest to least.

Question

Is the classmate correct? Construct an argument to justify your answer.
4.4, 4.2, -4.42, -4.24

Answer 1

To determine if the classmate correctly ordered the numbers from greatest to least, let's first identify and compare the numbers involved:

1. 4.4
2. 4.2
3. -4.42
4. -4.24

When comparing real numbers, positive numbers are greater than negative numbers. This fundamental fact helps us easily categorize these numbers.

1. Positive Numbers:

   • 4.4
   • 4.2 Here, 4.4 is greater than 4.2 because it is closer to the positive side of the number line.

2. Negative Numbers:

   • -4.42
   • -4.24 For negative numbers, a number closer to zero is greater. Therefore, -4.24 is greater than -4.42.

Now that we have categorized these numbers, let's order them from greatest to least:

• The greatest number is 4.4.
• The next number is 4.2.
• Among the negative numbers, -4.24 is greater than -4.42.

Thus, the correct order from greatest to least is:

4.4, 4.2, -4.24, -4.42

If your classmate ordered them as 4.4, 4.2, -4.42, -4.24, they are incorrect because -4.24 is greater than -4.42. Therefore, the correct ordering is as stated above.

In conclusion, the classmate is not correct in their ordering. The correct order from greatest to least is: 4.4, 4.2, -4.24, -4.42.