Comparing and OrderingWhole Numbers

Greater than (>) – a symbol used to show numbers greater than anotherLess than (<) – a symbol used to show numbers less than anotherEquals (=) a symbol used to show numbers having the same value

Vocabulary To Know

• Compare• Order• Inequality• Equal (=)• Unequal () • Greater than (>)• Greater than or equal to ()• Less than (<)• Less than or equal to ()

Vocabulary To Know

Examples: a). Compare 1123 and 1126 1123 < 1126 b). Compare 567 and 497 567 > 497 c). Compare 1 and 0.002 1 > 0.002 d). Compare 0.402 and 0.412, 0.402 < 0.412 e). Compare 120.65 and 34.999 120.65 > 34.999f). Compare 12.345 and 12.097. 12.345 > 12.09.

< (less than) > (greater than) = (equals)≤ (less than or equal to) ≥ (greater than or equal to)

Basic Steps• Compare the whole number parts first.• Start and move LEFT TO RIGHT • Compare the next most significant digit of each number in the same place.• If they are equal, move onto the next place to the right.

** Think of it as PAC –MAN, his mouth is ALWAYS open towards the LARGER number.

Comparing Numbers - Numerals to 20

SymbolMeaning Example in

SymbolsExample in Words 

> Greater thanMore thanBigger thanLarger than

7 > 4

7 is greater than 47 is more than 47 is bigger than 47 is larger than 4 

Greater than or equal toMore than or equal toBigger than or equal toLarger than or equal to

A number > 4A number is greater than 4A number is more than 4A number is bigger than 4A number is larger than 4

< Less thanFewer thanSmaller than

4 < 7

4 is less than 74 has fewer than 74 is smaller than 7 

Comparing Numbers - Numerals to 20

SymbolMeaning Example in

SymbolsExample in Words 

≤ Less than or equal toFewer than or equal toSmaller than or equal to

A number < 7A number is less than 7A number has fewer than 7A number is smaller than 7

=

Equal to Same as 7 = 7

7 is equal to 77 is the same as 7 

UnequalNot equal to

7 67 is unequal to 67 is not equal to 67 and 6 are not equal

Comparing Numbers• Line up the numbers vertically (up

and down) by the ones place (or the decimal, if there is one).

• Start at the left and compare the digits.

• Move towards the right until you find a difference.

How to Compare Numbers1 2 3

Line up thenumbers (start at the ones place)

Compare athighest place value

If numbersare the samego to next digitto the right

12,391 8,971

13,762

12,391 8,97113,762

12,391 8,97113,762

Example

45,312 45,321

45,312 45,321

1 is less than 2

<

Example 2 – Put the numbers in order from least to greatest.

321; 345; 354; 29; 1,013; 312; 332

321345354

291013

312332

largest

smallest

29

1,013

312 321 332

345 354

< < <

< <

Remember! The hungry alligator always eats the largest number.

Write < > or =

53,931 54,931<

Write < > or =

53,931 4,931>

Write < > or =

183,359 94,931>

Write < > or =

89,359 194,931<

Write < > or =

1,077,000 107,900>

Write < > or =

984,789 984,789=

Write < > or =

112,349 112,449<

Write < > or =

Five thousand 50,000<

Write < > or =

3 hundreds 6 tens 306>

Write < > or =

1,000+700+3 1,730<

If you know how to compare numbers, you know how to put them in order

1,730 14 569 9,271

Put these numbers in order from greatest to least

12 34

Put these numbers in order fromgreatest to least

35,872 36,872 569 912 3 4

Put these numbers in order fromleast to greatest

145,872 6,872 569 91 1234

Put these numbers in order fromleast to greatest

5,872 5,832 5,991 910 123 4