Year 1: Comparing and ordering numbers to 100
Part of the Year 1 numbers to 100 chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page · Download worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF)
Comparing and ordering numbers to 100
To compare two numbers, look at the tens first. The number with more tens is the bigger number. If both numbers have the same tens, look at the ones.
Each long bar is a ten. Each small square is a one. Which pile has more?
On a number line, bigger numbers are further to the right.
Key ideas
- Look at the tens first.
- More tens means a bigger number.
- If the tens are the same, compare the ones.
- Put numbers in order by their tens, then their ones.
Key words. Bigger means more. Smaller means less.
Method. Compare the tens first. Only compare the ones if the tens are the same.
- Look at the tens of each number. The tens tell us the big part of the number.47: 4 tens 52: 5 tens
- Compare the tens. The number with more tens is the bigger number.5 tens is more than 4 tens
- Write the answer. Bigger means more.52
Check. On the 100 square, 52 is further along than 47. ✓
Watch out. A number with more ones is not always bigger. Compare the tens first.
Key words. Bigger means more. Smaller means less.
Method. Compare the tens first. Only compare the ones if the tens are the same.
- Look at the tens of each number. The tens tell us the big part of the number.38: 3 tens 35: 3 tens
- The tens are the same, so look at the ones. When the tens match, the ones decide.38: 8 ones 35: 5 ones
- Compare the ones. The number with more ones is the bigger one.8 is more than 5
- Write the answer. Bigger means more.38
Check. On the 100 square, 38 is further along than 35. ✓
Watch out. A number with more ones is not always bigger. Compare the tens first.
Key words. Smallest is the least. Biggest is the most.
Method. Compare the tens first, then the ones, and put the numbers in order.
- Look at the tens of each number. A number with fewer tens is smaller.63: 6 tens 36: 3 tens 90: 9 tens 58: 5 tens
- Put them in order, smallest first. Start with the smallest number, then the next one.36, 58, 63, 90
- Write the answer. 36, 58, 63, 90
Check. There are 4 numbers in the question and 4 in the answer. ✓
Watch out. Check you have not left a number out, and that each number is used once.
Watch out
Watch out: do not compare only the ones. 9 ones is more than 1 one, but 39 is smaller than 51. That is because 39 has 3 tens and 51 has 5 tens.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Write two or three numbers on cards and mix them up. Ask your child to put them in order, smallest first. Let them look at the tens before the ones.
Exercise 6E Comparing and ordering
Non-calculatorKey words. Bigger means more. Smaller means less.
Method. Compare the tens first. Only compare the ones if the tens are the same.
- Look at the tens of each number. The tens tell us the big part of the number.26: 2 tens 62: 6 tens
- Compare the tens. The number with more tens is the bigger number.6 tens is more than 2 tens
- Write the answer. Bigger means more.62
Check. On the 100 square, 62 is further along than 26. ✓
Watch out. A number with more ones is not always bigger. Compare the tens first.
Key words. Bigger means more. Smaller means less.
Method. Compare the tens first. Only compare the ones if the tens are the same.
- Look at the tens of each number. The tens tell us the big part of the number.45: 4 tens 49: 4 tens
- The tens are the same, so look at the ones. When the tens match, the ones decide.45: 5 ones 49: 9 ones
- Compare the ones. The number with more ones is the bigger one.9 is more than 5
- Write the answer. Smaller means less.45
Check. On the 100 square, 49 is further along than 45. ✓
Watch out. A number with more ones is not always bigger. Compare the tens first.
Key words. Bigger means more. Smaller means less.
Method. Compare the tens first. Only compare the ones if the tens are the same.
- Look at the tens of each number. The tens tell us the big part of the number.70: 7 tens 67: 6 tens
- Compare the tens. The number with more tens is the bigger number.7 tens is more than 6 tens
- Write the answer. Bigger means more.70
Check. On the 100 square, 70 is further along than 67. ✓
Watch out. A number with more ones is not always bigger. Compare the tens first.
Key words. Bigger means more. Smaller means less.
Method. Compare the tens first. Only compare the ones if the tens are the same.
- Look at the tens of each number. The tens tell us the big part of the number.Group A: 6 tens Group B: 5 tens
- Compare the tens. The number with more tens is the bigger number.6 tens is more than 5 tens
- Write the answer. Bigger means more.Group A
Check. On the 100 square, 63 is further along than 58. ✓
Watch out. A number with more ones is not always bigger. Compare the tens first.
Key words. Smallest is the least. Biggest is the most.
Method. Compare the tens first, then the ones, and put the numbers in order.
- Look at the tens of each number. A number with fewer tens is smaller.18: 1 tens 81: 8 tens 42: 4 tens
- Put them in order, smallest first. Start with the smallest number, then the next one.18, 42, 81
- Write the answer. 18, 42, 81
Check. There are 3 numbers in the question and 3 in the answer. ✓
Watch out. Check you have not left a number out, and that each number is used once.
Key words. Smallest is the least. Biggest is the most.
Method. Compare the tens first, then the ones, and put the numbers in order.
- Look at the tens of each number. A number with fewer tens is smaller.74: 7 tens 47: 4 tens 72: 7 tens 27: 2 tens
- Put them in order, biggest first. Start with the biggest number, then the next one.74, 72, 47, 27
- Write the answer. 74, 72, 47, 27
Check. There are 4 numbers in the question and 4 in the answer. ✓
Watch out. Check you have not left a number out, and that each number is used once.
Method. Look at the tens first. The biggest number has the most tens.
- Look at the tens of each number. Compare the tens first.58: 5 tens 85: 8 tens 52: 5 tens
- Find the biggest number. Look for the most tens, then the ones.85 is the biggest number
- Write the answer. 85
Check. Put the numbers in order to check. ✓
Watch out. Do not pick the number with the biggest ones digit. Look at the tens first.
Method. Look at the tens first. The smallest number has the fewest tens.
- Look at the tens of each number. Compare the tens first.31: 3 tens 29: 2 tens 60: 6 tens
- Find the smallest number. Look for the fewest tens, then the ones.29 is the smallest number
- Write the answer. 29
Check. Put the numbers in order to check. ✓
Watch out. Do not pick the number with the biggest ones digit. Look at the tens first.
Key words. Bigger means more. Smaller means less.
Method. Compare the tens first. Only compare the ones if the tens are the same.
- Look at the tens of each number. The tens tell us the big part of the number.19: 1 tens 91: 9 tens
- Compare the tens. The number with more tens is the bigger number.9 tens is more than 1 tens
- Write the answer. Bigger means more.91
Check. On the 100 square, 91 is further along than 19. ✓
Watch out. A number with more ones is not always bigger. Compare the tens first.
Key words. Bigger means more. Smaller means less.
Method. Compare the tens first. Only compare the ones if the tens are the same.
- Look at the tens of each number. The tens tell us the big part of the number.55: 5 tens 50: 5 tens
- The tens are the same, so look at the ones. When the tens match, the ones decide.55: 5 ones 50: 0 ones
- Compare the ones. The number with more ones is the bigger one.5 is more than 0
- Write the answer. Bigger means more.55
Check. On the 100 square, 55 is further along than 50. ✓
Watch out. A number with more ones is not always bigger. Compare the tens first.
Key words. Bigger means more. Smaller means less.
Method. Compare the tens first. Only compare the ones if the tens are the same.
- Look at the tens of each number. The tens tell us the big part of the number.28: 2 tens 82: 8 tens
- Compare the tens. The number with more tens is the bigger number.8 tens is more than 2 tens
- Write the answer. Bigger means more.82
Check. On the 100 square, 82 is further along than 28. ✓
Watch out. A number with more ones is not always bigger. Compare the tens first.
Key words. Bigger means more. Smaller means less.
Method. Compare the tens first. Only compare the ones if the tens are the same.
- Look at the tens of each number. The tens tell us the big part of the number.25: 2 tens 9: 0 tens
- Compare the tens. The number with more tens is the bigger number.2 tens is more than 0 tens
- Write the answer. Bigger means more.25
Check. On the 100 square, 25 is further along than 9. ✓
Watch out. A number with more ones is not always bigger. Compare the tens first.
Key words. Bigger means more. Smaller means less.
Method. Compare the tens first. Only compare the ones if the tens are the same.
- Look at the tens of each number. The tens tell us the big part of the number.Mei: 5 tens Leo: 4 tens
- Compare the tens. The number with more tens is the bigger number.5 tens is more than 4 tens
- Write the answer. Bigger means more.Mei
Check. On the 100 square, 52 is further along than 47. ✓
Watch out. A number with more ones is not always bigger. Compare the tens first.
Key words. Smallest is the least. Biggest is the most.
Method. Compare the tens first, then the ones, and put the numbers in order.
- Look at the tens of each number. A number with fewer tens is smaller.34: 3 tens 43: 4 tens 39: 3 tens 30: 3 tens
- Put them in order, smallest first. Start with the smallest number, then the next one.30, 34, 39, 43
- Write the answer. 30, 34, 39, 43
Check. There are 4 numbers in the question and 4 in the answer. ✓
Watch out. Check you have not left a number out, and that each number is used once.