We can zoom into the number line to see decimal numbers between the integers. When each tick is a tenth, the point at 2.1 is one tenth to the right of 2, and the point at 2.5 is halfway between 2 and 3. On the left side of zero, the point at -2.4 is four tenths to the left of -2.

When the tenths are not shown, we can estimate where a decimal goes. For example, 3.2 lands a little to the right of 3, about two tenths of the way toward 4.

To compare two numbers, we look at where they sit on the number line. The greater number is the one farther to the right. Since -2.0 is to the right of -2.4, we say $\text-2.0 > \text-2.4$.

Two numbers that are the same distance from 0 and on different sides of the number line are opposites. For example, $\text-\frac{1}{2}$ and $\frac{1}{2}$ are opposites because they are both $\frac{1}{2}$ unit from 0, but on opposite sides.

To find the opposite of a number, we flip its sign. The opposite of 2.2 is -2.2, and the opposite of $\text-\frac{3}{2}$ is $\frac{3}{2}$. The opposite of 0 is itself — zero is the only number that is its own opposite.