Final answer:
17.4 is not greater than 17.9. When comparing decimal numbers, you compare digits from left to right, starting with the highest place value. Because 4 is less than 9 in the tenths place, 17.4 is less than 17.9.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks whether 17.4 is greater than 17.9. Comparing numbers involves looking at the value of each digit in their place value positions. When comparing two decimal numbers, start from the left and compare digits in the same place value; if they are the same, move one place to the right until you find a place where the digits are different.
In the case of 17.4 and 17.9, the digits in the ones place (1 and 7) are equal, so you then compare the tenths place. Here, 4 (in 17.4) is less than 9 (in 17.9).
Therefore, 17.4 is not greater than 17.9; in fact, it is less.
To visually compare these numbers with others, consider all the numbers as part of a number line, where numbers increase in value as you move right.
For instance, in the series provided (10.4, 19.6, 18.8, ... , 17.4, ... , 17.9, ... , 23.3, ... , 31.7), you can see that 17.9 is closer to higher values like 18.0 and beyond, compared to 17.4, indicating again that 17.9 is greater.