1. Comparing and Ordering
Whole Numbers

2. Vocabulary To Know
Greater than (>) – a symbol used to show numbers greater than another
Less than (<) – a symbol used to show numbers less than another
Equals (=) a symbol used to show numbers having the same value

3. Vocabulary To Know Compare Order Inequality Equal (=) Unequal ()
Greater than (>)
Greater than or equal to ()
Less than (<)
Less than or equal to ()

4. Comparing Numbers < (less than) > (greater than) = (equals)
≤ (less than or equal to) ≥ (greater than or equal to)
Basic Steps
Compare the whole number parts first.
Start and move LEFT TO RIGHT
Compare the next most significant digit of each number in the same place.
If they are equal, move onto the next place to the right.
** Think of it as PAC –MAN, his mouth is ALWAYS open towards the LARGER number.
Examples:
a). Compare 1123 and < 1126
b). Compare 567 and > 497
c). Compare 1 and > 0.002
d). Compare and 0.412, < 0.412
e). Compare and >
f). Compare and >

5. Greater than More than Bigger than Larger than 7 > 4
Symbol
Meaning
Example in Symbols
Example in Words
> 
Greater than More than Bigger than Larger than
7 > 4
7 is greater than 4 7 is more than 4 7 is bigger than 4 7 is larger than 4 
Greater than or equal to More than or equal to Bigger than or equal to Larger than or equal to
A number > 4
A number is greater than 4 A number is more than 4 A number is bigger than 4 A number is larger than 4
< 
Less than Fewer than Smaller than
4 < 7
4 is less than 7 4 has fewer than 7 4 is smaller than 7
Comparing Numbers - Numerals to 20

6. Less than or equal to Fewer than or equal to Smaller than or equal to
Symbol
Meaning
Example in Symbols
Example in Words ≤
Less than or equal to Fewer than or equal to Smaller than or equal to
A number < 7
A number is less than 7 A number has fewer than 7 A number is smaller than 7 =
Equal to Same as
7 = 7
7 is equal to 7 7 is the same as 7 
Unequal
Not equal to
7  6
7 is unequal to 6
7 is not equal to 6
7 and 6 are not equal
Comparing Numbers - Numerals to 20

7. Comparing Numbers
Line up the numbers vertically (up and down) by the ones place (or the decimal, if there is one).
Start at the left and compare the digits.
Move towards the right until you find a difference.

8. How to Compare Numbers Line up the numbers (start at the ones place)1 2 3
Line up the
numbers
(start at the
ones place)
If numbers
are the same
go to next digit
to the right
Compare at
highest
place value
12,391
8,971
13,762
12,391
8,971
13,762
12,391
8,971
13,762

9. Example
<
45,312
45,321
45,312
45,321
1 is less than 2

10. Example 2 – Put the numbers in order from least to greatest.
321; 345; 354; 29; 1,013; 312; 332
321 29
<
312
<
321
<
332
345
354
345
<
354
<
1,013 29
smallest
1013
largest
312
332

11. Remember! The hungry alligator always eats the largest number.

12. Write < > or =
53,931
<
54,931

13. Write < > or =
53,931
>
4,931

14. Write < > or =
>
183,359
94,931

15. Write < > or =
<
89,359
194,931

16. Write < > or =
>
1,077,000
107,900

17. Write < > or = =
984,789
984,789

18. Write < > or =
<
112,349
112,449

19. Write < > or =
<
50,000
Five thousand

20. Write < > or =
>
306
3 hundreds 6 tens

21. Write < > or =
< 1,
1,730

22. If you know how to compare numbers, you know how to put them in order
Put these numbers in order
from greatest to least
1, ,271 2 4 3 1

23. Put these numbers in order from greatest to least
35, , 2 1 3 4

24. Put these numbers in order from least to greatest
145, , 4 3 2 1

25. Put these numbers in order from least to greatest
5, , , 3 2 4 1