Answer

 
  1. Two numbers have unlike signs. So, the positive number is greater. That is, .
     
  2. Putting   into a decimal to two decimal points, you have -0.81. Putting into a decimal to two decimal points, you have -0.73. Putting these on the number line, using tenths between 0 and -1, you will find that -0.73 is to the right of -0.81. This means that -0.73 > -0.81 or -0.81 < -0.73.
     
    3.
  3. Since the denominator of each of these numbers is the same, we can look at the numerators and see that -17 < -1; therefore, . If this is too difficult for the student to understand, go back to the answer for (b). to see that rounded to two decimal places is -0.81. Then put into a decimal to two decimal places and you will see that it is -0.05. When you place these on a number line, you will see that is to the left of , so .
     
  4. Since is positive and is negative, the first number will be to the right of the second number on the number line, therefore, .
     


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