Comparing & Ordering Numbers
Practise comparing whole numbers using greater-than, less-than and equals — a core place-value skill.
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How to compare two numbers
Comparing numbers is really about place value: a number with more digits is bigger, and when two numbers have the same number of digits, you compare them place by place from the left.
- If one number has more digits, it is the larger one.
- Otherwise, compare the leftmost digits first.
- If those match, move one place right and compare again, until they differ.
- Choose < (less than), > (greater than), or = (equal).
A handy memory trick: the < / > symbol is like a hungry mouth that always opens toward the bigger number.
Worked examples
Tips & common mistakes
Start from the left, not the right — the leftmost place that differs decides everything. The trickiest cases are numbers of different lengths that look close (like 99 and 102); remind your child that more digits wins. Tap <, = or > for each pair.
- Comparing from the ones digit instead of the left — the highest place value decides first.
- Thinking 99 > 102 because 9 is a big digit — 102 has more digits, so it is larger.
- Pointing the < / > symbol the wrong way — the open mouth faces the bigger number.
Frequently asked questions
What do <, > and = mean?
< means “less than,” > means “greater than,” and = means “equal to.” The open side of < or > always faces the larger number.
How do you compare two numbers?
First count digits — more digits means larger. If they match, compare digit by digit from the left until they differ.
What grade is comparing numbers?
It starts in grade 1 with small numbers and extends through grade 3 to larger ones.
Why is 99 less than 102?
Because 102 has three digits and 99 has only two. A number with more digits is always larger, whatever the individual digits are.
What’s the alligator trick?
The < / > symbol is drawn like a mouth that opens to “eat” the bigger number — a quick way to remember which way it points.