Question

ordering rational numbers - clue 3
discover another clue by arranging the rational numbers below in ascending order. cut out the numbers (paired with letters) at the bottom of the page, arrange and paste them from least to greatest into the empty boxes to make the letters reveal a clue.
-4.22 a
20.2 s
-9.823 a
-22.03 h
16.73 y
-16.5 t
8.7 n
-1.95 s
1.5 o
-17.6 h
16.5 e
-1.5 b
-16.005 m
-20.2 e
-0.64 r
-22.3 t
16.44 e
-8.1 n
-4.4 h
4.3 w
-16.85 i

Explanation:

Step1: List all number-letter pairs

$(-22.3, T), (-22.03, H), (-20.2, E), (-17.6, H), (-16.85, I), (-16.5, T), (-16.005, M), (-9.823, A), (-8.1, N), (-4.4, H), (-4.22, A), (-1.95, S), (-1.5, B), (-0.64, R), (1.5, O), (4.3, W), (8.7, N), (16.44, E), (16.5, E), (16.73, Y), (20.2, S)$

Step2: Sort numbers ascendingly

1. $-22.3$ (T), 2. $-22.03$ (H), 3. $-20.2$ (E), 4. $-17.6$ (H), 5. $-16.85$ (I), 6. $-16.5$ (T), 7. $-16.005$ (M), 8. $-9.823$ (A), 9. $-8.1$ (N), 10. $-4.4$ (H), 11. $-4.22$ (A), 12. $-1.95$ (S), 13. $-1.5$ (B), 14. $-0.64$ (R), 15. $1.5$ (O), 16. $4.3$ (W), 17. $8.7$ (N), 18. $16.44$ (E), 19. $16.5$ (E), 20. $16.73$ (Y), 21. $20.2$ (S)

Step3: Map to box counts

Box groups: 3, 6, 3, 5, 4. Split sorted letters:

1. 3 letters: T, H, E
2. 6 letters: H, I, T, M, A, N
3. 3 letters: H, A, S
4. 5 letters: B, R, O, W, N
5. 4 letters: E, E, Y, S

Answer:

First row (3 boxes): T, H, E
Second row (6 boxes): H, I, T, M, A, N
Third row left (3 boxes): H, A, S
Third row right (5 boxes): B, R, O, W, N
Fourth row (4 boxes): E, E, Y, S
The full clue is: THE HITMAN HAS BROWN EYES