Which of the following options correctly orders the numbers below from least to greatest?
235.971, 145.884, -271.906, -193.823
A.
-271.906, -193.823, 145.884, 235.971
B.
-271.971, 235.971, -193.823, 145.884
C.
145.884, -193.823, 235.971, -271.906
D.
-193.823, -271.906, 145.884, 235.971
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is:
A. -271.906, -193.823, 145.884, 235.971
Explanation:
To order numbers from least to greatest, we need to understand their positions on the number line. The number line is a visual representation where numbers to the left are smaller and those to the right are larger.
- Negative Numbers:
- Negative numbers are always less than positive numbers. Therefore, any negative number will come before positive numbers in an ordered list.
- Between negative numbers, the more negative a number is, the smaller its value. For example, -271.906 is smaller than -193.823 because -271.906 is further to the left on the number line.
- Ordering Negative Numbers:
- We start by ordering the negative numbers: -271.906 and -193.823.
- Between these two, -271.906 is less than -193.823. Therefore, in our ordered list, -271.906 comes before -193.823.
- Ordering Positive Numbers:
- Next, we compare the positive numbers: 145.884 and 235.971. Positive numbers are always greater than any negative numbers.
- Between these two, 145.884 is less than 235.971. Hence, 145.884 comes before 235.971 in the list.
- Combining Results:
- Combining our findings, the list should start with the smallest negative number, -271.906, followed by the next smallest negative number, -193.823.
- Then, we list the positive numbers starting with the smaller one, 145.884, and ending with the largest one, 235.971.
Thus, the correctly ordered list from least to greatest is: -271.906, -193.823, 145.884, 235.971. This matches option A.