Question

Is 0.117 less than 0.5?

Answer 1

Yes.

Explanation:

The easiest thing to do is to look at both numbers to `1 d.p`
`0.117 = 0.1` to `1d.p`
`0.5` is already is `1d.p`

1 is less than 5

`therefore 0.1 < 0.5`

Answer 2

`0.117 < 0.500`

Explanation:

If you write the numbers with the same number of decimal places it is easier to see the relationship between them.

Compare `0.117 and 0.500`

Clearly `117 < 500`

Students tend to forget that `0.5 = 0.50 = 0.500`

You are not comparing `117` with `5`

Looking at just the first decimal place would have been enough.

`0.1 < 0.5`

`1/10 < 5/10`

`1<5`

Answer 3

This is a sort of trick showing how you can 'play' with numbers to give you what you whant.

Explanation:

Using the following principle

`1/4 = (1/4xx1)-=(1/4xx2/2)=2/8 larr" All the same value"`

If `0.117` is less than `0.5` then `0.117/0.5` will be less than 1

`(0.117/0.5xx1) -=(0.117/0.5xx100/100) = 117/500<1`

As `117` is less than `500` then `0.117` is less than `0.5`

Notice that 'Ez as pi' has used the same approach but with different numbers.