Students can use the number line guide at the top to help solve these decimal comparison problems.

Problem: Comparing Decimal Numbers

The task is to compare pairs of numbers and write the correct comparison symbol (`<`, `=`, or `>`) in each box. Here's how to solve it step by step:

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#### Step 1: Understand the Comparison
- `<` means "less than"
- `=` means "equal to"
- `>` means "greater than"

#### Step 2: Compare Each Pair
We will compare each pair of numbers from left to right and determine the correct symbol.

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Left Column:

#### a. \( 5 \) ______ \( 5.1 \)
- \( 5 \) is less than \( 5.1 \)
- Answer: \( < \)

#### b. \( 7 \) ______ \( 7.2 \)
- \( 7 \) is less than \( 7.2 \)
- Answer: \( < \)

#### c. \( 12 \) ______ \( 12 \)
- \( 12 \) is equal to \( 12 \)
- Answer: \( = \)

#### d. \( 15 \) ______ \( 14.3 \)
- \( 15 \) is greater than \( 14.3 \)
- Answer: \( > \)

#### e. \( 14 \) ______ \( 9.5 \)
- \( 14 \) is greater than \( 9.5 \)
- Answer: \( > \)

#### f. \( 44 \) ______ \( 55.6 \)
- \( 44 \) is less than \( 55.6 \)
- Answer: \( < \)

#### g. \( 74 \) ______ \( 69.2 \)
- \( 74 \) is greater than \( 69.2 \)
- Answer: \( > \)

#### h. \( 87 \) ______ \( 65.3 \)
- \( 87 \) is greater than \( 65.3 \)
- Answer: \( > \)

#### i. \( 53 \) ______ \( 78.1 \)
- \( 53 \) is less than \( 78.1 \)
- Answer: \( < \)

#### j. \( 64 \) ______ \( 68.4 \)
- \( 64 \) is less than \( 68.4 \)
- Answer: \( < \)

#### k. \( 9 \) ______ \( 4.3 \)
- \( 9 \) is greater than \( 4.3 \)
- Answer: \( > \)

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Right Column:

#### l. \( 17 \) ______ \( 6.7 \)
- \( 17 \) is greater than \( 6.7 \)
- Answer: \( > \)

#### m. \( 15 \) ______ \( 19.1 \)
- \( 15 \) is less than \( 19.1 \)
- Answer: \( < \)

#### n. \( 21 \) ______ \( 13.6 \)
- \( 21 \) is greater than \( 13.6 \)
- Answer: \( > \)

#### o. \( 17 \) ______ \( 19.4 \)
- \( 17 \) is less than \( 19.4 \)
- Answer: \( < \)

#### p. \( 29.8 \) ______ \( 29.8 \)
- \( 29.8 \) is equal to \( 29.8 \)
- Answer: \( = \)

#### q. \( 61 \) ______ \( 54.1 \)
- \( 61 \) is greater than \( 54.1 \)
- Answer: \( > \)

#### r. \( 47 \) ______ \( 24.9 \)
- \( 47 \) is greater than \( 24.9 \)
- Answer: \( > \)

#### s. \( 37 \) ______ \( 47.3 \)
- \( 37 \) is less than \( 47.3 \)
- Answer: \( < \)

#### t. \( 55 \) ______ \( 55 \)
- \( 55 \) is equal to \( 55 \)
- Answer: \( = \)

#### u. \( 17 \) ______ \( 19.2 \)
- \( 17 \) is less than \( 19.2 \)
- Answer: \( < \)

#### v. \( 6 \) ______ \( 52.6 \)
- \( 6 \) is less than \( 52.6 \)
- Answer: \( < \)

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Final Answers:

#### Left Column:
a. \( < \)
b. \( < \)
c. \( = \)
d. \( > \)
e. \( > \)
f. \( < \)
g. \( > \)
h. \( > \)
i. \( < \)
j. \( < \)
k. \( > \)

#### Right Column:
l. \( > \)
m. \( < \)
n. \( > \)
o. \( < \)
p. \( = \)
q. \( > \)
r. \( > \)
s. \( < \)
t. \( = \)
u. \( < \)
v. \( < \)

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Boxed Final Answer:

\[
\boxed{
\begin{array}{ll}
\text{Left Column:} & \text{Right Column:} \\
a. < & l. > \\
b. < & m. < \\
c. = & n. > \\
d. > & o. < \\
e. > & p. = \\
f. < & q. > \\
g. > & r. > \\
h. > & s. < \\
i. < & t. = \\
j. < & u. < \\
k. > & v. < \\
\end{array}
}
\]