Which number is greatest/least?

key notes :

🔴How do you compare two numbers?

🎇You can see which number is greater using a place-value chart.

🎇To compare two numbers, follow these steps:

  1. Write the numbers in a place-value chart.
  2. Compare the digits starting with the greatest place value.
  3. If the digits are the same, compare the digits in the next place value to the right. Keep comparing digits with the same place value until you find digits that are different.

🎇Let’s try it! Compare 94 and 983.

A place value chart with the numbers 94 and 983. The number 94 shows a 9 in the tens place and a 4 in the ones place. The number 983 shows a 9 in the hundreds place, an 8 in the tens place, and a 3 in the ones place.

The greatest place value is hundreds. Since 94 has no hundreds, 983 is greater than 94.

Let’s look at another example. Compare 431 and 413.

A place value chart with the numbers 431 and 413. The number 431 shows a 4 in the hundreds place, a 3 in the tens place and a 1 in the ones place. The number 413 shows a 4 in the hundreds place, a 1 in the tens place, and a 3 in the ones place.
  • Compare the hundreds digits.
    • Both numbers have a hundreds digit of 4, so move to the place value to the right.
  • Compare the tens digits.
    • The tens digit in 431 is 3. The tens digit in 413 is 1.
    • 3 is greater than 1. So, 431 is greater than 413.

🔷Comparing larger numbers

You can compare larger numbers in the same way. Let’s try it with 31,023,399 and 31,039,300.

A place value chart with the numbers 31,023,399 and 31,039,300. The number 31,023,399 has the 31 in the millions period, 023 in the thousands period, and 399 in the ones period. The 31,039,300 has the 31 in the millions period, 039 in the thousands period, and 300 in the ones period. There is highlighting to show that the first three digits of both numbers are the same, but the fourth digit is different.

2 is less than 3.

 So, 31,023,399 is less than 31,039,300.

🔷Comparison symbols

You can use words or symbols to compare numbers.

A table with the columns "Greater than", "Less than", and "Equal to". The "Greater than" column shows the greater than symbol, the inequality 856 is greater than 829, and the words "856 is greater than 829". The "Less than" column shows the less than symbol, the inequality 3,547 is less than 3,582, and the words "3,547 is less than 3,582." The "Equal to" column shows the equal sign, the equation 10,503 equals 10,503, and the words "10,503 is equal to 10,503".

Learn with an example

🗼 Which number is smaller?

  • 69
  • 70
  • When you count, 69 comes before 70. 69 is smaller than 70.

🗼Which number is largest?

  • 6
  • 37
  • 67
  • When you count, 6 comes before 37 and 37 comes before 67. 67 is the largest number.

🗼 Which number is smaller?

  • 6
  • 60
  • When you count, 6 comes before 60. 6 is smaller than 60.

Let’s practice!