Question

1. which list shows these values ordered from least to greatest? $-5, -1 \frac{1}{2}, 0, 2 \frac{1}{4}, 3$

a $-5, -1 \frac{1}{2}, 0, 2 \frac{1}{4}, 3$
b $-1 \frac{1}{2}, -5, 0, 2 \frac{1}{4}, 3$
c $3, 2 \frac{1}{4}, 0, -1 \frac{1}{2}, -5$
d $-5, 0, -1 \frac{1}{2}, 2 \frac{1}{4}, 3$

Explanation:

First, convert the mixed numbers to decimals for easier comparison: $-1\frac{1}{2} = -1.5$ and $2\frac{1}{4} = 2.25$. Then order the values from smallest to largest: negative numbers are smaller than 0, and among negatives, the larger the absolute value, the smaller the number. So $-5 < -1.5 < 0 < 2.25 < 3$, which translates back to $-5, -1\frac{1}{2}, 0, 2\frac{1}{4}, 3$.

Answer:

A. -5, -1 1/2, 0, 2 1/4, 3