Which decimal is greatest among 0.50, 0.51, 0.52, 0.49?

• A. 0.50
• B. 0.51
• C. 0.52
• D. 0.49

Answer: (C)

When comparing decimals, read from left to right: the digit in the tenths place has the most weight, then the hundredths, and so on. All these numbers are between 0 and 1, so the tenths digit matters first. The tenths are 5 for three of them and 4 for the last, so 0.49 is smaller than the rest. Among the ones with 5 tenths, look at the hundredths: 0.50 has 0 hundredths, 0.51 has 1 hundredth, and 0.52 has 2 hundredths. A larger hundredths digit makes the number larger, so 0.52 is the greatest.