Comparing Numbers

When comparing numbers, we are determining the relationship between two or more numbers. There are three main comparison symbols we use:

Greater Than (>): This symbol (>), which looks like an arrow pointing to the right, is used to show that one number is larger than another. For example, 5 > 3 means "5 is greater than 3."
Less Than (<): This symbol (<), which looks like an arrow pointing to the left, is used to show that one number is smaller than another. For example, 2 < 4 means "2 is less than 4."
Equal To (=): This symbol (=) is used to show that two numbers have the same value. For example, 6 = 6 means "6 is equal to 6."

When comparing numbers, it's important to understand the value of each digit in the numbers. The digit at the leftmost place value (like tens or hundreds) has a greater value than the digit to its right. For example, in the number 36, the digit 3 is in the tens place and has a greater value than the digit 6 in the ones place.

Here are some examples of comparing numbers:

Example 1: Compare 14 and 20

14 < 20 (Read as "14 is less than 20")

Example 2: Compare 8 and 8

8 = 8 (Read as "8 is equal to 8")

Example 3: Compare 25 and 17

25 > 17 (Read as "25 is greater than 17")

By using comparison symbols, we can easily determine the relationship between different numbers.

◂Math Worksheets and Study Guides First Grade. Sequencing

Duck Race - Least to Greatest

The resources above cover the following skills:

Number and Operations (NCTM)

Understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems.

Count with understanding and recognize 'how many' in sets of objects.

Develop understanding of the relative position and magnitude of whole numbers and of ordinal and cardinal numbers and their connections.

Develop a sense of whole numbers and represent and use them in flexible ways, including relating, composing, and decomposing numbers.

Connect number words and numerals to the quantities they represent, using various physical models and representations.

Grade 1 Curriculum Focal Points (NCTM)

Number and Operations: Developing an understanding of whole number relationships, including grouping in tens and ones

Children compare and order whole numbers (at least to 100) to develop an understanding of and solve problems involving the relative sizes of these numbers. They think of whole numbers between 10 and 100 in terms of groups of tens and ones (especially recognizing the numbers 11 to 19 as 1 group of ten and particular numbers of ones). They understand the sequential order of the counting numbers and their relative magnitudes and represent numbers on a number line.