Comparing quantities

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.

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: 2
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 2
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.

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: 4
2. Count group b. Touch each one once.
   Group b: 10
3. Compare the two numbers. The bigger number is the group with more.
   10 and 4
4. Write the answer.
   Group b

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.

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: 3
3. Compare the two numbers. The bigger number is the group with more.
   7 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.

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: 5
2. Count group b. Touch each one once.
   Group b: 9
3. Compare the two numbers. The smaller number is the group with fewer.
   9 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.

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

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.

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: 9
2. Count group b. Touch each one once.
   Group b: 4
3. Compare the two numbers. The bigger number is the group with more.
   9 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.

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

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.

Method. Count each set of stickers. Then see who has the bigger number.

1. Count Ali’s stickers. Touch each one once.
   Ali: 4
2. Count Ben’s stickers. Touch each one once.
   Ben: 6
3. Compare the numbers. The bigger number has more.
   6 is more than 4
4. Write the answer.
   Ben

Check. Count on from 4: 5, 6. Ben has two more, so he has more. ✓

Watch out. Count both sets, not just the first.

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: 5
2. Count group b. Touch each one once.
   Group b: 7
3. Compare the two numbers. The smaller number is the group with fewer.
   7 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.

Method. Count each row carefully. Do not guess from the picture.

1. Count row a. Touch each one once.
   1, 2, 3, 4, 5
2. Count row b. Touch each one once.
   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
3. Compare them. Row b has one more thing left over.
   row b: 6, row a: 5
4. Write the answer.
   Group b

Check. Match row a with row b: each row a thing has a partner, and one row b thing is left over. ✓

Watch out. The row that is longer does not always have more. Count it.

Method. Match one thing from one row to one thing from the other row.

1. Pair the things up. Each thing in one row gets one partner in the other.
   one to one
2. Look for leftovers. If one row has things with no partner, it has more.
   leftovers = more
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any answer that matches one thing to one thing and says the row with things left over has more.

Check. Matching shows which row is longer in number. ✓

Watch out. Matching works without counting every thing.

Method. Count each row. Then see if the numbers are the same.

1. Count row a. Touch each one once.
   4
2. Count row b. Touch each one once.
   4
3. Compare the two numbers. The same number means the same amount.
   4 and 4
4. Write the answer.
   Yes

Check. Match one to one. Every thing has a partner. ✓

Watch out. Two rows can look different and still have the same number.

Method. Count each row. Then see if the numbers are the same.

1. Count row a. Touch each one once.
   6
2. Count row b. Touch each one once.
   7
3. Compare the two numbers. The same number means the same amount.
   6 and 7
4. Write the answer.
   No

Check. Match one to one. One row has things left over. ✓

Watch out. Two rows can look different and still have the same number.

Method. Count each row. Then see if the numbers are the same.

1. Count row a. Touch each one once.
   3
2. Count row b. Touch each one once.
   3
3. Compare the two numbers. The same number means the same amount.
   3 and 3
4. Write the answer.
   Yes

Check. Match one to one. Every thing has a partner. ✓

Watch out. Two rows can look different and still have the same number.

Method. Count each row. Then see if the numbers are the same.

1. Count row a. Touch each one once.
   9
2. Count row b. Touch each one once.
   8
3. Compare the two numbers. The same number means the same amount.
   9 and 8
4. Write the answer.
   No

Check. Match one to one. One row has things left over. ✓

Watch out. Two rows can look different and still have the same number.

Key words. The same means equal: the same number of things.

Method. Count each group. If the numbers are the same, the groups are the same.

1. Count group a. Touch each one once.
   Group a: 5
2. Count group b. Touch each one once.
   Group b: 5
3. Compare the numbers. Both numbers are the same.
   5 = 5
4. Write the answer.
   The same: both have 5

Check. Match one to one: every thing has a partner, and none is left over. ✓

Watch out. Two groups can look different but still have the same number.

Method. Count the first group. Then find the group with the same number.

1. Count the first group: 7. Touch each one once.
   7
2. Check each choice. Only one choice has the same number.
   6, 7, 8
3. Write the answer.
   7

Check. Count the group you picked again. It is 7. ✓

Watch out. Check the number of each choice, not the size of the picture.

Method. Count the first group. Then find the group with the same number.

1. Count the first group: 4. Touch each one once.
   4
2. Check each choice. Only one choice has the same number.
   3, 4, 5
3. Write the answer.
   4

Check. Count the group you picked again. It is 4. ✓

Watch out. Check the number of each choice, not the size of the picture.

Method. The rows are the same, so row b has the same number as row a.

1. Look at row a. It has 8 balls.
   8
2. Think about row b. The same number means the same amount.
   8 = 8
3. Write the answer.
   8

Check. Count 8 things in row b to check. ✓

Watch out. The same means equal: the same number.

Method. Check the number of things in each row, not the length.

1. Look at the rows. Long rows can still have a different number.
   length is not number
2. Count or match them. Match one to one and check for leftovers.
   count each row
3. Write the answer.
   No. Looking long is not enough. You must count or match them.

Check. Count each row to be sure. ✓

Watch out. Length can be fooling. Count the things.

Method. Count each set of counters, even if they are spread out.

1. Count Sam’s counters. Touch each one once.
   Sam: 6
2. Count Ali’s counters. Spreading them out does not change the number.
   Ali: 6
3. Compare them. Both have the same number.
   6 = 6
4. Write the answer.
   Yes. They both have 6 counters. Spreading out does not change the number.

Check. Count each set again: 6 and 6. ✓

Watch out. Spreading things out does not change how many there are.

Method. Count the things in each row.

1. Count row a. Touch each one once.
   4
2. Count row b. Touch each one once.
   5
3. Compare the numbers. Five is not the same as four.
   5 is not 4
4. Write the answer.
   No. Row b has 5 stars, which is one more than 4.

Check. Count row b again: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. ✓

Watch out. Check every row, not just the first one.

Method. Count each row, even if the pattern is different.

1. Count row a. Touch each star once.
   3
2. Count row b. Touch each cube once.
   3
3. Compare the counts. The counts are the same.
   3 = 3
4. Write the answer.
   Accept any answer that counts both rows, gets 3 each and says they are equal.

Check. Count each row again: 1, 2, 3 in both. ✓

Watch out. A different pattern can still have the same number.

Key words. Greater than means bigger. Less than means smaller.

Method. Put the numbers on the number track. The number further along is greater.

1. Find both numbers on the track. Put a finger on each one.
   14 and 9
2. Look at which one comes later. The number that comes later when we count is greater.
   14 comes later
3. 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.

1. Find both numbers on the track. Put a finger on each one.
   12 and 17
2. Look at which one comes first. The number that comes first when we count is less.
   12 comes first
3. 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.

1. Find both numbers on the track. Put a finger on each one.
   16 and 18
2. Look at which one comes later. The number that comes later when we count is greater.
   18 comes later
3. 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.

1. Find both numbers on the track. Put a finger on each one.
   7 and 3
2. Look at which one comes first. The number that comes first when we count is less.
   3 comes first
3. 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.

1. Find both numbers on the track. Put a finger on each one.
   19 and 11
2. Look at which one comes first. The number that comes first when we count is less.
   11 comes first
3. 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.

1. Find both numbers on the track. Put a finger on each one.
   11 and 6
2. Look at which one comes later. The number that comes later when we count is greater.
   11 comes later
3. 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.

1. Find 13 and 10. Put your fingers on both.
   13 and 10
2. Count on from 10. Count on: 11, 12, 13.
   10 to 13
3. 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.

1. Find 6 and 15. Put your fingers on both.
   6 and 15
2. Look at which comes first. Six comes before fifteen when we count.
   6 is less than 15
3. 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.

1. Find both numbers on the track. Put a finger on each one.
   13 and 15
2. Look at which one comes later. The number that comes later when we count is greater.
   15 comes later
3. 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.

1. Check 12. 12 is more than 10.
   12 is not less
2. Check 7. 7 is less than 10.
   7 is less
3. Check 15. 15 is more than 10.
   15 is not less
4. 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.

1. Find 9 and 19. Put a finger on each.
   9 and 19
2. Look at which comes later. 19 comes after 9 when we count.
   9 ... 19
3. 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.

1. Find 12 and 20. Put a finger on each.
   12 and 20
2. Count on from 12 to 20. Twenty is at the end.
   12 ... 20
3. 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.

Key words. One more means the next number.

Method. One more is the next number. Add one to 4.

1. Start with 4. Count the things in the first group.
   4
2. Add one more. Count on one from the first number.
   4 + 1 = 5
3. Write the answer.
   5

Check. Count back one: 5 − 1 = 4. ✓

Watch out. One more is the next number, not the number after that.

Key words. One less means the number just before.

Method. One less is the number just before. Take one from 8.

1. Start with 8. Count the things in the group.
   8
2. Take one away. One less is one fewer.
   8 − 1 = 7
3. Write the answer.
   7

Check. Add one back: 7 + 1 = 8. ✓

Watch out. Take one away, and check that the number went down by one.

Key words. One more means the next number.

Method. One more is the next number. Add one to 9.

1. Start with 9. Count the things in the first group.
   9
2. Add one more. Count on one from the first number.
   9 + 1 = 10
3. Write the answer.
   10

Check. Count back one: 10 − 1 = 9. ✓

Watch out. One more is the next number, not the number after that.

Key words. One less means the number just before.

Method. One less is the number just before. Take one from 5.

1. Start with 5. Count the things in the group.
   5
2. Take one away. One less is one fewer.
   5 − 1 = 4
3. Write the answer.
   4

Check. Add one back: 4 + 1 = 5. ✓

Watch out. Take one away, and check that the number went down by one.

Key words. One more means the next number.

Method. One more is the next number. Add one to 14.

1. Start with 14. Count the things in the first group.
   14
2. Add one more. Count on one from the first number.
   14 + 1 = 15
3. Write the answer.
   15

Check. Count back one: 15 − 1 = 14. ✓

Watch out. One more is the next number, not the number after that.

Key words. One less means the number just before.

Method. One less is the number just before. Take one from 20.

1. Start with 20. Count the things in the group.
   20
2. Take one away. One less is one fewer.
   20 − 1 = 19
3. Write the answer.
   19

Check. Add one back: 19 + 1 = 20. ✓

Watch out. Take one away, and check that the number went down by one.

Method. Count the first group. Then add one more thing and count again.

1. Count the first group: 3. Touch each one once.
   3
2. Add one more. The new group has one more thing.
   3 + 1 = 4
3. Count the new group. Touch each one once to check.
   Now there are 4
4. Write the answer.
   4

Check. Count the new group again: 1 to 4. ✓

Watch out. Count the new thing too.

Method. Count the first group. Then add one more thing and count again.

1. Count the first group: 7. Touch each one once.
   7
2. Add one more. The new group has one more thing.
   7 + 1 = 8
3. Count the new group. Touch each one once to check.
   Now there are 8
4. Write the answer.
   8

Check. Count the new group again: 1 to 8. ✓

Watch out. Count the new thing too.

Key words. One less means the number just before.

Method. One less is the number just before. Take one from 7.

1. Start with 7. Count the things in the group.
   7
2. Take one away. One less is one fewer.
   7 − 1 = 6
3. Write the answer.
   6

Check. Add one back: 6 + 1 = 7. ✓

Watch out. Take one away, and check that the number went down by one.

Key words. One less means the number just before.

Method. One less is the number just before. Take one from 10.

1. Start with 10. Count the things in the group.
   10
2. Take one away. One less is one fewer.
   10 − 1 = 9
3. Write the answer.
   9

Check. Add one back: 9 + 1 = 10. ✓

Watch out. Take one away, and check that the number went down by one.

Key words. One more means the next number.

Method. One more is the next number. Add one to 12.

1. Start with 12. Count the things in the first group.
   12
2. Add one more. Count on one from the first number.
   12 + 1 = 13
3. Write the answer.
   13

Check. Count back one: 13 − 1 = 12. ✓

Watch out. One more is the next number, not the number after that.

Method. Count the balls in the first row. Then add one to get the next number.

1. Count the balls. Touch each one once.
   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
2. Add one more ball. Count on one from 6.
   6 + 1 = 7
3. Write the answer.
   7

Check. Count back one from 7: 6. ✓

Watch out. One more than six is seven, not eight.

Method. Count on from 9 to see which number comes next.

1. Count from 9. Say the next number after 9.
   9, 10
2. Look at the step. Ten is the next number, so it is one more.
   9 + 1 = 10
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any answer that says 10 is the next number after 9, so it is one more.

Check. Count back one from 10: 9. ✓

Watch out. One more is always the next number.

Method. Count each group. Then find the biggest number.

1. Count each group. Touch each one once.
   Row a: 4, Row b: 7, Row c: 2
2. Find the biggest number. Compare all the numbers.
   7 is the biggest
3. Write the answer.
   Row b

Check. Check the others: they all have fewer than 7. ✓

Watch out. Do not guess from the picture. Count every group.

Method. Count each group. Then find the smallest number.

1. Count each group. Touch each one once.
   Row a: 4, Row b: 7, Row c: 2
2. Find the smallest number. Compare all the numbers.
   2 is the smallest
3. Write the answer.
   Row c

Check. Check the others: they all have more than 2. ✓

Watch out. Do not guess from the picture. Count every group.

Method. Count each group. Then find the biggest number.

1. Count each group. Touch each one once.
   Row a: 5, Row b: 1, Row c: 8
2. Find the biggest number. Compare all the numbers.
   8 is the biggest
3. Write the answer.
   Row c

Check. Check the others: they all have fewer than 8. ✓

Watch out. Do not guess from the picture. Count every group.

Method. Count each group. Then find the smallest number.

1. Count each group. Touch each one once.
   Row a: 5, Row b: 1, Row c: 8
2. Find the smallest number. Compare all the numbers.
   1 is the smallest
3. Write the answer.
   Row b

Check. Check the others: they all have more than 1. ✓

Watch out. Do not guess from the picture. Count every group.

Method. Count each group. Then find the biggest number.

1. Count each group. Touch each one once.
   Row a: 3, Row b: 10, Row c: 6
2. Find the biggest number. Compare all the numbers.
   10 is the biggest
3. Write the answer.
   Row b

Check. Check the others: they all have fewer than 10. ✓

Watch out. Do not guess from the picture. Count every group.

Method. Count each group. Then find the smallest number.

1. Count each group. Touch each one once.
   Row a: 9, Row b: 4, Row c: 6
2. Find the smallest number. Compare all the numbers.
   4 is the smallest
3. Write the answer.
   Row b

Check. Check the others: they all have more than 4. ✓

Watch out. Do not guess from the picture. Count every group.

Method. Count each group. Then find the biggest number.

1. Count each group. Touch each one once.
   Ali: 3, Ben: 5, Cara: 1
2. Find the biggest number. Compare all the numbers.
   5 is the biggest
3. Write the answer.
   Ben

Check. Check the others: they all have fewer than 5. ✓

Watch out. Do not guess from the picture. Count every group.

Method. Count each group. Then find the smallest number.

1. Count each group. Touch each one once.
   Ali: 3, Ben: 5, Cara: 1
2. Find the smallest number. Compare all the numbers.
   1 is the smallest
3. Write the answer.
   Cara

Check. Check the others: they all have more than 1. ✓

Watch out. Do not guess from the picture. Count every group.

Method. Count each group. Then find the biggest number.

1. Count each group. Touch each one once.
   Row a: 2, Row b: 7, Row c: 4
2. Find the biggest number. Compare all the numbers.
   7 is the biggest
3. Write the answer.
   Row b

Check. Check the others: they all have fewer than 7. ✓

Watch out. Do not guess from the picture. Count every group.

Method. Count each group. Then find the smallest number.

1. Count each group. Touch each one once.
   Row a: 2, Row b: 7, Row c: 4
2. Find the smallest number. Compare all the numbers.
   2 is the smallest
3. Write the answer.
   Row a

Check. Check the others: they all have more than 2. ✓

Watch out. Do not guess from the picture. Count every group.

Method. Count the three rows and see which has the fewest.

1. Count each row. Touch each one once.
   a: 6, b: 6, c: 1
2. Find the fewest. One is the smallest number.
   c has 1
3. Write the answer. Rows a and b have the most, not the fewest.
   No. Row a and row b have 6 each, but row c has the fewest. Row a and row b are not the fewest.

Check. Count row c: 1 thing. That is the fewest. ✓

Watch out. The most and the fewest can be different groups.

Method. Count each group first. Then compare the numbers.

1. Count every group. Touch each one once.
   three counts
2. Compare the three numbers. The biggest number is the most.
   biggest = most
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any answer: count every group, then pick the group with the biggest number.

Check. Count each group, then compare the numbers. ✓

Watch out. Count every group, not just two of them.

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: 6
2. Count group b. Touch each one once.
   Group b: 3
3. Compare the two numbers. The bigger number is the group with more.
   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.

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: 4
2. Count group b. Touch each one once.
   Group b: 9
3. Compare the two numbers. The smaller number is the group with fewer.
   9 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.

Method. Count each row. Then see if the numbers are the same.

1. Count row a. Touch each one once.
   5
2. Count row b. Touch each one once.
   5
3. Compare the two numbers. The same number means the same amount.
   5 and 5
4. Write the answer.
   Yes

Check. Match one to one. Every thing has a partner. ✓

Watch out. Two rows can look different and still have the same number.

Key words. Greater than means bigger. Less than means smaller.

Method. Put the numbers on the number track. The number further along is greater.

1. Find both numbers on the track. Put a finger on each one.
   15 and 11
2. Look at which one comes later. The number that comes later when we count is greater.
   15 comes later
3. Write the answer.
   15

Check. Count on from 11 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.

1. Find both numbers on the track. Put a finger on each one.
   18 and 13
2. Look at which one comes first. The number that comes first when we count is less.
   13 comes first
3. Write the answer.
   13

Check. Count on from 13 to 18. The smaller number is the start. ✓

Watch out. The smaller number is the one closer to zero.

Key words. One more means the next number.

Method. One more is the next number. Add one to 16.

1. Start with 16. Count the things in the first group.
   16
2. Add one more. Count on one from the first number.
   16 + 1 = 17
3. Write the answer.
   17

Check. Count back one: 17 − 1 = 16. ✓

Watch out. One more is the next number, not the number after that.

Key words. One less means the number just before.

Method. One less is the number just before. Take one from 10.

1. Start with 10. Count the things in the group.
   10
2. Take one away. One less is one fewer.
   10 − 1 = 9
3. Write the answer.
   9

Check. Add one back: 9 + 1 = 10. ✓

Watch out. Take one away, and check that the number went down by one.

Method. The number between 4 and 6 is in the middle.

1. Find 4 and 6 on the track. Put a finger on each.
   4 ... 6
2. Count on one from 4. The middle number is one more than the first.
   4 + 1 = 5
3. Write the answer.
   5

Check. Count on from 5 to 6: 5 + 1 = 6. ✓

Watch out. The number between is not one of the two numbers you started with.

Method. Count each group. Then find the biggest number.

1. Count each group. Touch each one once.
   Row a: 3, Row b: 5, Row c: 8
2. Find the biggest number. Compare all the numbers.
   8 is the biggest
3. Write the answer.
   Row c

Check. Check the others: they all have fewer than 8. ✓

Watch out. Do not guess from the picture. Count every group.

Method. Think about pairs of things, one from each group.

1. Pair the things up. Each thing in one group gets a partner in the other.
   one to one
2. Look for leftovers. If nothing is left over, the groups are the same.
   no leftovers
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any answer that says each thing has a partner and nothing is left over.

Check. Matching one to one shows the groups are equal. ✓

Watch out. Both groups need every thing paired.

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: 9
2. Count group b. Touch each one once.
   Group b: 6
3. Compare the two numbers. The bigger number is the group with more.
   9 and 6
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.

Method. Count each row. Then see if the numbers are the same.

1. Count row a. Touch each one once.
   4
2. Count row b. Touch each one once.
   6
3. Compare the two numbers. The same number means the same amount.
   4 and 6
4. Write the answer.
   No

Check. Match one to one. One row has things left over. ✓

Watch out. Two rows can look different and still have the same number.

Key words. Greater than means bigger. Less than means smaller.

Method. Put the numbers on the number track. The number further along is greater.

1. Find both numbers on the track. Put a finger on each one.
   9 and 14
2. Look at which one comes later. The number that comes later when we count is greater.
   14 comes later
3. 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. 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: 8
2. Count group b. Touch each one once.
   Group b: 5
3. Compare the two numbers. The smaller number is the group with fewer.
   8 and 5
4. Write the answer.
   Group b

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.

Method. Count each group. Then find the smallest number.

1. Count each group. Touch each one once.
   Row a: 2, Row b: 6, Row c: 9
2. Find the smallest number. Compare all the numbers.
   2 is the smallest
3. Write the answer.
   Row a

Check. Check the others: they all have more than 2. ✓

Watch out. Do not guess from the picture. Count every group.

Method. The number between 8 and 10 is in the middle.

1. Find 8 and 10 on the track. Put a finger on each.
   8 ... 10
2. Count on one from 8. The middle number is one more than the first.
   8 + 1 = 9
3. Write the answer.
   9

Check. Count on from 9 to 10: 9 + 1 = 10. ✓

Watch out. The number between is not one of the two numbers you started with.

Method. Look at where 9 and 12 are on the track.

1. Find 9 and 12. Put a finger on each.
   9 and 12
2. Look at which comes later. Twelve comes after nine when we count.
   9, 10, 11, 12
3. Compare them. Twelve is greater than nine.
   12 is greater
4. Write the answer.
   No. 12 is greater than 9, because 12 comes later when we count.

Check. Count on from 9 to 12. Twelve is greater. ✓

Watch out. The number that comes later is the greater one.

Method. Count each row, then compare the numbers.

1. Count row a and row b. Each has 4 things.
   a: 4, b: 4
2. Count row c. It has 7 cubes.
   c: 7
3. Compare the numbers. Seven is more than four.
   7 is more than 4
4. Write the answer.
   Row c has the most, because 7 is more than 4.

Check. Count row c: 1 to 7. ✓

Watch out. Compare all three rows, not just two.

Method. Start at 19 and move one step on.

1. Start at 19. Put your finger on 19.
   19
2. Move one step on. One more is the next number.
   19 + 1 = 20
3. Write the answer. Twenty is the next number after nineteen.
   20. One more than 19 is 20.

Check. Count back one from 20: 19. ✓

Watch out. One more is the next number, so it goes up.

Method. Count both sets, even if the patterns are different.

1. Count Ali’s set. Touch each one once.
   Ali: 6
2. Count Ben’s set. The pattern does not change the count.
   Ben: 6
3. Compare the numbers. Both sets have the same number.
   6 = 6
4. Write the answer.
   Accept any answer that counts each set, gets 6 each and says they are the same.

Check. Count each set again: 6 and 6. ✓

Watch out. A different pattern can still have the same number.