I know all my answers in my quiz but this one please help

Order the rational numbers from least to greatest :0.42, -1/2, 11/20, -0.51

thanks again I'm not good with decimals :P

Think of decimals as money.

0.42 = 42 cents
-0.51 = -51 cents (money you owe someone else)

-1/2 = -0.50 (money you lost)

11/20 = 0.55

The least amount is -0.51

Take it from there.

oh ok thanks now I get it

And I got 100 I love Jiskha!!!!

Yay!!!! :-) And you're very welcome.

To order the given rational numbers from least to greatest, we can use a few strategies. I will explain two methods for solving this problem.

Method 1: Convert all the decimals into fractions by relating them to their place values.

1. Start by comparing the decimals 0.42 and -0.51.
- To compare them, we need to make them have the same number of decimal places.
- Multiply 0.42 by 100 to obtain 42/100, which simplifies to 21/50.
- Multiply -0.51 by 100 to obtain -51/100.

2. Now we have the fractions -1/2, 21/50, -51/100, and 11/20.
- Rewrite the fractions using the same denominator to make comparisons easier.
- Multiply -1/2 by 50 to get -25/50.
- Multiply 11/20 by 5 to get 55/100.

3. The list of fractions now looks like this: -25/50, 21/50, -51/100, and 55/100.
- Arrange the fractions in ascending order: -51/100, -25/50, 21/50, 55/100.

Thus, the rational numbers, from least to greatest, are: -51/100, -1/2, 11/20, 0.42.

Method 2: Compare the decimal numbers directly.
This method bypasses converting decimals to fractions.

1. Start by comparing the decimals 0.42 and -0.51.
- Since both decimals have the same number of decimal places, we can directly compare them.
- Clearly, -0.51 is smaller than 0.42.

2. Next, compare the decimals -0.51 and -0.5.
- To compare them, ignore the minus sign and compare their absolute values.
- Again, -0.51 is smaller than -0.5.

3. Now, compare the decimals -0.5 and 11/20.
- Convert -0.5 into a fraction by writing it as -0.50.
- Multiply -0.50 by 100 to obtain -50/100, which simplifies to -1/2.
- Comparing -1/2 and 11/20, we can see that -1/2 is smaller.

The order of the rational numbers, from least to greatest, is: -0.51, -0.5, -1/2, 11/20, 0.42.

I hope this explanation helps you understand the process of ordering rational numbers!