Websink Prep UKReception MathsTextbook contentsMaths textbooksReceptionYear 1Year 2Year 4Year 5Year 6Year 3Year 7Year 8Year 9GCSEBrowse allPast papersFind a tutorBecome a tutor
Reception Maths · ReceptionChapter 3 · Comparing quantities
Reception Maths · Comparing quantities · Lesson 3.1

Reception Maths: More and fewer: matching one to one

Part of the Reception Maths comparing quantities chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

3.1

More and fewer: matching one to one

Reception
Compare two groups by matching one to one

Mia and Noah each have a row of things. Who has more?

You can match them one to one. Pair each star with one ball. If one row has some left over, that row has more. The other row has fewer.

ab
Row a and row b. Which row has more?

Key ideas

  • Match one thing in one row with one thing in the other row.
  • The row with things left over has more.
  • The row with fewer things has nothing left over.
Worked example 3.1.1
Which row has more? Row a or row b?
ab

Key words. More means a bigger number. Fewer means a smaller number.

Method. Count each group. Then see which one has more.

  1. Count group a. Touch each one once.
    Group a: 7
  2. Count group b. Touch each one once.
    Group b: 4
  3. Compare the two numbers. The bigger number is the group with more.
    7 and 4
  4. Write the answer.
    Group a

Check. Match one to one: the group with things left over has more. ✓

Watch out. Count each group. Do not guess from how spread out the things are.

Worked example 3.1.2
Which row has fewer? Row a or row b?
ab

Key words. More means a bigger number. Fewer means a smaller number.

Method. Count each group. Then see which one has fewer.

  1. Count group a. Touch each one once.
    Group a: 3
  2. Count group b. Touch each one once.
    Group b: 6
  3. Compare the two numbers. The smaller number is the group with fewer.
    6 and 3
  4. Write the answer.
    Group a

Check. Match one to one: the group with things left over has more. ✓

Watch out. Count each group. Do not guess from how spread out the things are.

Worked example 3.1.3
Which row has more?
ab

Key words. More means a bigger number. Fewer means a smaller number.

Method. Count each group. Then see which one has more.

  1. Count group a. Touch each one once.
    Group a: 8
  2. Count group b. Touch each one once.
    Group b: 5
  3. Compare the two numbers. The bigger number is the group with more.
    8 and 5
  4. Write the answer.
    Group a

Check. Match one to one: the group with things left over has more. ✓

Watch out. Count each group. Do not guess from how spread out the things are.

Watch out

Watch out: a row can look longer because its things are spread out. Always match one to one, or count.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Lay out two rows of buttons, one row spread out. Ask your child to pair one button from each row. Ask: “Which row has some left over?”

Exercise 3A  More and fewer

Non-calculator
1
FWhich row has more? Say a or b.
ab
2
FWhich row has fewer? Say a or b.
ab
3
FWhich row has more? Say a or b.
ab
4
FWhich row has more? Say a or b.
ab
5
FWhich row has fewer? Say a or b.
ab
6
FWhich row has fewer? Say a or b.
ab
7
FWhich row has more? Say a or b.
ab
8
FWhich row has more? Say a or b.
ab
9
PSAli has 4 stickers. Ben has 6 stickers. Who has more?
10
PSWhich row has fewer? Say a or b.
ab
11
RRow a has 5 stars. Row b has 6 stars. Which row has more? Explain how you know.
ab
12
RExplain how you can find out which row has more, without counting. Use the word “match”.

Websink Prep UK is an independent site. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, SQA, GL Assessment, CEM or the Department for Education. All exam board names and trademarks belong to their owners. Past papers are linked from the exam boards' own websites and are not hosted here.

About Websink Prep UK · Find a tutor · Privacy · Terms · Cookie settings