Comparing numbers is determining whether a number is lesser, greater, or equal to another number.
The symbol < indicates that one number is less than another.
The symbol > indicates that one number is greater than another.
The symbol = indicates that two numbers have the same value. They are equal.
On a number line, the numbers are always placed in ascending order. To read a number line, look at the numbers from left to right.
The number furthest to the left is the smallest.
I locate the numbers 10 and 16 on the number line to compare them.
The number on the left is 10.
10 is less than 16.
10 < 16
The number furthest to the right is the largest.
I locate the numbers 25 and 15 on the number line to compare them.
The number on the right is 25.
25 is greater than 15.
25 > 15
Comparing numbers is determining whether a number is less than (<), greater than (>), or equal to (=) another number.
Examples:
- 3 is less than 8.
3 < 8 - 10 is greater than 5.
10 > 5 - 7 is equal to 7.
7 = 7
On a number line, the numbers are always placed in ascending order.
The number on the left is the smallest. The one on the right is the largest.
I locate the numbers 5.2 and 5.7 on the number line to compare them.
5.2 is the number on the left.
5.2 is less than 5.7.
5.2 < 5.7
To compare the numbers 2720.29 and 2705.89, I write them in a place value chart.
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I start by looking at the largest place value column and compare the numbers.
Both numbers have 2 in the thousands position. Since the numbers are equal, I will move on to the next column.
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I look at the next place value column and compare the numbers.
Both numbers have 7 in the hundreds position. So, I move on to the next column.
- I look at the next place value column and compare the numbers.
The number 2 720.29 has 2 tens while the number 2 705.89 has none.
Since 2 is greater than 0, the number 2 720.29 is greater than 2 705.89.