Resources/Decimals practice: compare and add decimals
Grades 4-6•Printable worksheet + answer key•CC0 license

Decimals practice: compare and add decimals

A printable lesson focused on decimal place value and accurate addition.

Students learn to align decimal points, compare values, and add decimals with confidence.

Print-ready worksheet with answer key and quick teaching tips.

Grades 4-60 problems10 minAnswer key included
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Ready-to-teach

Clear steps, examples, and practice in one printable page.

Misconception-proof

Highlights common mistakes and how to fix them quickly.

Open license

CC0: free to copy, adapt, and share without attribution.

Quick overview

This free decimals worksheet for grades 4-6 builds place value accuracy and decimal comparison skills.

Lesson plan snapshot

15-20 min
  • Warm-up (3 min): quick place value review with a number line.
  • Model (5 min): solve the worked example together.
  • Guided practice (5 min): complete problems 1-3 as a group.
  • Independent practice (7 min): finish the remaining problems.

Materials: place value chart, pencil

Learning targets

  • Compare decimals by aligning place value.
  • Add decimals using vertical alignment.
  • Check answers with estimation.

Step-by-step approach

  1. 1Line up decimals vertically so the decimal points match.
  2. 2Compare or add from left to right using place value.
  3. 3Add trailing zeros if needed (0.3 = 0.30).
  4. 4Place the decimal in the final answer directly under the alignment.

Common mistakes

Mistake

Comparing by number of digits (0.25 > 0.3).

Try instead

Compare place values, not length.

Mistake

Misaligned decimals when adding.

Try instead

Stack numbers so decimal points are vertical.

Mistake

Dropping the decimal point in the answer.

Try instead

Bring the decimal straight down from the aligned column.

Worked example

Guided
Solve: 2.5+0.75=?2.5 + 0.75 = ?
  1. Align decimals: 2.50 + 0.75.
  2. Add hundredths: 0 + 5 = 5.
  3. Add tenths: 5 + 7 = 12, write 2 carry 1.
  4. Add ones: 2 + 1 + 0 = 3.
Answer: 3.25

Related resources

Place value

Tens, ones, and hundreds with base-ten models.

View resource

Percents

Convert percents and solve percent-of problems.

View resource

Fractions

Add and compare fractions with unlike denominators.

View resource

Practice problems

16 problems • 24 min

Printable worksheet
  1. 1
    Solve: 9.1−0.89.1 - 0.8
  2. 2
    Solve: 0.3+2.60.3 + 2.6
  3. 3
    Compare: Which is larger, 77 or 7.827.82?
  4. 4
    Solve: 6.87+0.16.87 + 0.1
  5. 5
    Solve: 3.8+8.523.8 + 8.52
  6. 6
    Solve: 5.49−0.055.49 - 0.05
  7. 7
    Solve: 8.29−0.278.29 - 0.27
  8. 8
    What is the value of the 3 in 9.239.23?
  9. 9
    Compare: Which is larger, 8.778.77 or 0.850.85?
  10. 10
    What is the value of the 6 in 1.601.60?
  11. 11
    Compare: Which is larger, 1.21.2 or 9.749.74?
  12. 12
    What is the value of the 6 in 7.697.69?
  13. 13
    Solve: 5.87+2.15.87 + 2.1
  14. 14
    Solve: 9.2−7.49.2 - 7.4
  15. 15
    Solve: 1.42+3.71.42 + 3.7
  16. 16
    Solve: 3.03+4.343.03 + 4.34

Answer key

16 answers
  1. 11) 8.3
  2. 22) 2.9
  3. 33) 7.82
  4. 44) 6.97
  5. 55) 12.32
  6. 66) 5.44
  7. 77) 8.02
  8. 88) 0.03
  9. 99) 8.77
  10. 1010) 0.6
  11. 1111) 9.74
  12. 1212) 0.6
  13. 1313) 7.97
  14. 1414) 1.8
  15. 1515) 5.12
  16. 1616) 7.37

Teacher tips

  • TUse place value charts when introducing decimals.
  • THave students estimate first to catch unreasonable answers.
  • TUse money examples (dollars and cents) for context.

Parent tips

  • PCompare prices at the grocery store to practice decimals.
  • PAsk your child to explain how they aligned the decimals.
  • PUse rounding to check whether answers make sense.

Open license

You are free to copy, adapt, and share these materials. No attribution required. Released under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 (public domain).