Which number is the smallest between .4 and 3 and .27 and 19 and 1.6?

since most of these are decimals, it would be easier to tell which is bigger and smaller by making them all decimals. If you do so then you would now have:

.4, 3.0, .27, 19.0, and 1.6

anything with a number in the ones place is too big here. so that eliminates

19, 3, and 1.6

now you are left with .4 and .27 add a zero to .4 to make it .40 because it does not change its value at all. now which is bigger, 40 or 27? 40. so your answer is:

.27