How do you know that 0.25 is smaller than 2.5?

To determine that 0.25 is smaller than 2.5, we can compare the two numbers directly. The decimal 0.25 represents one-quarter, while 2.5 represents two and a half. Since 2.5 is a whole number greater than 2, it is clear that 0.25 is less than 2.5. Additionally, if we convert both numbers to fractions, 0.25 is ( \frac{1}{4} ) and 2.5 is ( \frac{5}{2} ), further confirming that ( \frac{1}{4} < \frac{5}{2} ).