Lesson: Order and Compare Numbers
Being able to order and compare numbers helps us understand which numbers are bigger, smaller, or equal. It also helps us organize numbers in order from smallest to largest, or largest to smallest.
Ordering Numbers
When we order numbers, we arrange them from smallest to largest (ascending order) or from largest to smallest (descending order).
- Example of ascending order: 12, 34, 56, 78
- Example of descending order: 78, 56, 34, 12
When ordering numbers, we compare their digits starting from the left to see which is larger or smaller.
Comparing Numbers
To compare numbers, we look at each place value, starting from the largest place (left side).
We use symbols to show how numbers relate to each other:
- Greater than (>) means the first number is bigger.
- Less than (<) means the first number is smaller.
- Equal to (=) means the numbers are the same.
- Example: 45 < 67 (45 is less than 67)
- Example: 89 > 23 (89 is greater than 23)
Arrange the Numbers
Arranging numbers means putting them in a specific order, either from smallest to largest or from largest to smallest.
- Example: Put these numbers in ascending order: 23, 12, 45, 34
Answer: 12, 23, 34, 45
Compare the Numbers
When comparing two numbers, look at each digit starting from the left (the largest place value). The number with the larger digit in the highest place value is bigger.
- Example: Compare 345 and 256
Answer: 345 > 256 (because 3 in the hundreds place is greater than 2)
Number Comparisons
Number comparisons help us decide which number is larger or smaller when we line them up next to each other. For example, comparing 102 and 98, we start by looking at the hundreds place (1 vs. 0) to determine that 102 is greater.