Reception Maths: Greater and less than, up to 20
Part of the Reception Maths comparing quantities chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Greater and less than, up to 20
Mia has 13 stickers. Ben has 15 stickers. Who has more?
The bigger number is greater than the smaller number. The smaller number is less than the bigger one. On a number track, the greater number comes later.
Key ideas
- Greater than means bigger.
- Less than means smaller.
- The number that comes later when we count is greater.
Key words. Greater than means bigger. Less than means smaller.
Method. Put the numbers on the number track. The number further along is greater.
- Find both numbers on the track. Put a finger on each one.13 and 15
- Look at which one comes later. The number that comes later when we count is greater.15 comes later
- Write the answer. 15
Check. Count on from 13 to 15. The larger number is reached last. ✓
Watch out. Greater means bigger. Less means smaller.
Key words. Less than means smaller.
Method. Put the numbers on the number track. The number further back is less.
- Find both numbers on the track. Put a finger on each one.12 and 17
- Look at which one comes first. The number that comes first when we count is less.12 comes first
- Write the answer. 12
Check. Count on from 12 to 17. The smaller number is the start. ✓
Watch out. The smaller number is the one closer to zero.
Key words. Greater than means bigger. Less than means smaller.
Method. Put the numbers on the number track. The number further along is greater.
- Find both numbers on the track. Put a finger on each one.8 and 5
- Look at which one comes later. The number that comes later when we count is greater.8 comes later
- Write the answer. 8
Check. Count on from 5 to 8. The larger number is reached last. ✓
Watch out. Greater means bigger. Less means smaller.
Watch out
Watch out: 9 has one digit and 19 has two, but 19 is greater than 9. Look at which number comes later when we count.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Use a number track or a line of steps. Ask: “Which number comes later?” Count on from the smaller number to reach the bigger one.
Exercise 3C Greater and less
Non-calculatorKey words. Greater than means bigger. Less than means smaller.
Method. Put the numbers on the number track. The number further along is greater.
- Find both numbers on the track. Put a finger on each one.14 and 9
- Look at which one comes later. The number that comes later when we count is greater.14 comes later
- Write the answer. 14
Check. Count on from 9 to 14. The larger number is reached last. ✓
Watch out. Greater means bigger. Less means smaller.
Key words. Less than means smaller.
Method. Put the numbers on the number track. The number further back is less.
- Find both numbers on the track. Put a finger on each one.12 and 17
- Look at which one comes first. The number that comes first when we count is less.12 comes first
- Write the answer. 12
Check. Count on from 12 to 17. The smaller number is the start. ✓
Watch out. The smaller number is the one closer to zero.
Key words. Greater than means bigger. Less than means smaller.
Method. Put the numbers on the number track. The number further along is greater.
- Find both numbers on the track. Put a finger on each one.16 and 18
- Look at which one comes later. The number that comes later when we count is greater.18 comes later
- Write the answer. 18
Check. Count on from 16 to 18. The larger number is reached last. ✓
Watch out. Greater means bigger. Less means smaller.
Key words. Less than means smaller.
Method. Put the numbers on the number track. The number further back is less.
- Find both numbers on the track. Put a finger on each one.7 and 3
- Look at which one comes first. The number that comes first when we count is less.3 comes first
- Write the answer. 3
Check. Count on from 3 to 7. The smaller number is the start. ✓
Watch out. The smaller number is the one closer to zero.
Key words. Less than means smaller.
Method. Put the numbers on the number track. The number further back is less.
- Find both numbers on the track. Put a finger on each one.19 and 11
- Look at which one comes first. The number that comes first when we count is less.11 comes first
- Write the answer. 11
Check. Count on from 11 to 19. The smaller number is the start. ✓
Watch out. The smaller number is the one closer to zero.
Key words. Greater than means bigger. Less than means smaller.
Method. Put the numbers on the number track. The number further along is greater.
- Find both numbers on the track. Put a finger on each one.11 and 6
- Look at which one comes later. The number that comes later when we count is greater.11 comes later
- Write the answer. 11
Check. Count on from 6 to 11. The larger number is reached last. ✓
Watch out. Greater means bigger. Less means smaller.
Method. Find 10 and 13 on the track. Look at which one comes later.
- Find 13 and 10. Put your fingers on both.13 and 10
- Count on from 10. Count on: 11, 12, 13.10 to 13
- Write the answer. 13 comes later, so it is greater.Yes
Check. Count 10, 11, 12, 13. Thirteen is greater. ✓
Watch out. Greater numbers come later when we count.
Method. Find 6 and 15 on the track. Look at which one comes first.
- Find 6 and 15. Put your fingers on both.6 and 15
- Look at which comes first. Six comes before fifteen when we count.6 is less than 15
- Write the answer. Yes
Check. Count from 6 to 15. Six is at the start. ✓
Watch out. The smaller number comes first.
Key words. Greater than means bigger. Less than means smaller.
Method. Put the numbers on the number track. The number further along is greater.
- Find both numbers on the track. Put a finger on each one.13 and 15
- Look at which one comes later. The number that comes later when we count is greater.15 comes later
- Write the answer. 15
Check. Count on from 13 to 15. The larger number is reached last. ✓
Watch out. Greater means bigger. Less means smaller.
Method. Look at each number. Find the one that is smaller than 10.
- Check 12. 12 is more than 10.12 is not less
- Check 7. 7 is less than 10.7 is less
- Check 15. 15 is more than 10.15 is not less
- Write the answer. 7
Check. Count 7, 8, 9, 10. Seven is before ten. ✓
Watch out. Less than 10 means before 10 on the track.
Method. Look at where each number is on the track.
- Find 9 and 19. Put a finger on each.9 and 19
- Look at which comes later. 19 comes after 9 when we count.9 ... 19
- Write the answer. No. 19 is greater than 9, because 19 comes later when we count.
Check. Count from 9 to 19. Nineteen is greater. ✓
Watch out. The number of digits does not decide which is greater.
Method. Look at which number comes later when we count.
- Find 12 and 20. Put a finger on each.12 and 20
- Count on from 12 to 20. Twenty is at the end.12 ... 20
- Write the answer. 20 is greater, because it comes later when we count.
Check. Count 12 up to 20. Twenty is the greater number. ✓
Watch out. Count on from the smaller number to see the greater one.