Final answer:
Using the number line to determine which number is smaller between two given numbers, we find that for each pair, the smaller number is the one furthest to the left. The largest number in each pair is the one furthest to the right on a number line.
Step-by-step explanation:
As per the question, we need to determine which numbers are smaller based on their position on a number line and list groups of numbers in decreasing order. The rules of the number line indicate that the further to the right the number is, the larger it is. Given this, we can answer each part of the question:
- (a) 1 or 4: 1 is smaller than 4.
- (b) 7 or 5: 5 is smaller than 7.
- (c) -6 or 8: -6 is smaller than 8.
- (d) -4 or -2: -4 is smaller than -2.
- (e) -7 or 6: -7 is smaller than 6.
- (f) -8 or -2: -8 is smaller than -2.
- (g) -10 or -3: -10 is smaller than -3.
- (h) -8 or -12: -12 is smaller than -8.
When listing numbers from the highest to lowest, we start with the number furthest to the right on the number line and move to the left.