How do you order the following from least to greatest sqrt2, 2.1, -sqrt4, 0, -5/2?

1 Answer
May 3, 2017

-5/2, -sqrt4, 0, sqrt2, 2.1

Explanation:

sqrt2, 2.1, -sqrt4, 0, -5/2

ordering these can be done without using a calculator.

first, convert all numbers to square roots:

sqrt2 = sqrt2

2.1 = sqrt(2.1^2) = sqrt(2.1*2.1) = sqrt4.41

-sqrt4 = -sqrt4

0=sqrt0

-5/2 = -sqrt(5^2/2^2) = -sqrt(25/4) = -sqrt6.25

sqrt2, sqrt4.41, -sqrt4, sqrt0, -sqrt6.25

then order them:

-sqrt4, sqrt0, sqrt2, sqrt4.41, -sqrt6.25

you can then convert these back to the original numbers:

-5/2, -sqrt4, 0, sqrt2, 2.1