Question

You are given two numbers: 5.1 and 5.01

Figure out which one is larger. Use a number line to visualize.

• A. 5.1
• B. 5.01
• C. 5.05

Answer 1

The correct option is A 5.1

Let's arrange the given numbers in place value table.
Place Value Table

O	.	t	h
5	.	1	0
5	.	0	1

While observing the tenths column, we find that one tenth is greater than zero tenth.

$\therefore$ 5.1 is greater than 5.01.

Also, we can mark these numbers on a number line for comparison.

5.1

5.1 has one tenth. Hence, it can be marked when the space between 5 and 6 is divided into 10 equal intervals.

$\Rightarrow \frac{1}{10}=0.1$

5.01

5.01 has one hundredth. Hence, it can be marked when space between 5 and 6 is divided into 100 equal parts, i.e., each interval length should have $\frac{1}{100}\text{unit}$.
For this,
we divide the space between 5 and 5.1 into 10 equal parts.
$\Rightarrow \frac{0.1}{10}=\frac{1}{100}=0.01$

Hence, 5.1 is larger than 5.01.