Question

think about it!
how can you compare
rational numbers when
they are written in
different forms?

talk about it!
how can you compare
the numbers without
graphing them on a
number line?

Explanation:

To compare rational numbers in different forms (e.g., fraction, decimal, percent), convert them to the same form (e.g., all decimals or all fractions). For example, compare $\frac{1}{2}$ (0.5) and 0.6 by converting $\frac{1}{2}$ to 0.5, then compare 0.5 < 0.6. Without a number line, use conversion (to same form), find a common denominator (for fractions), or compare place values (for decimals). For fractions, $\frac{a}{b}$ and $\frac{c}{d}$ can be compared by cross - multiplying: if $ad < bc$, then $\frac{a}{b}<\frac{c}{d}$. For decimals, compare digit by digit from the leftmost place.

Answer:

To compare rational numbers in different forms, convert them to the same form (e.g., all decimals, all fractions, or all percents) and then compare. To compare without a number line, use methods like converting to the same form, finding a common denominator (for fractions), cross - multiplying (for fractions $\frac{a}{b}$ and $\frac{c}{d}$: compare $ad$ and $bc$), or comparing decimal place values (for decimals).