Step-by-step Maths Level 1 Before, after and between: check-up and practice test questions

Method. One less means the number just before when we count back.

1. Start at the number. We begin where we are.
   8
2. Count back one. Say the number that comes just before.
   8 - 1 = 7
3. Write the answer.
   7

Check. Count on one: 7 add 1 is 8. It works.

Watch out. One less is the number before, not the number after.

Method. One more means the next number when we count on.

1. Start at the number. We begin where we are.
   14
2. Count on one. Say the number that comes next.
   14 + 1 = 15
3. Write the answer.
   15

Check. Count back one: 15 take away 1 is 14. It works.

Watch out. One more is the next number, not the same number.

Method. One less means the number just before when we count back.

1. Start at the number. We begin where we are.
   12
2. Count back one. Say the number that comes just before.
   12 - 1 = 11
3. Write the answer.
   11

Check. Count on one: 11 add 1 is 12. It works.

Watch out. One less is the number before, not the number after.

Method. One more means the next number when we count on.

1. Start at the number. We begin where we are.
   0
2. Count on one. Say the number that comes next.
   0 + 1 = 1
3. Write the answer.
   1

Check. Count back one: 1 take away 1 is 0. It works.

Watch out. One more is the next number, not the same number.

Method. Find the numbers in between by counting on from the smaller number.

1. Start at the smaller number. Count on one at a time.
   15
2. Count on until just before the bigger one. The numbers in between come after the smaller one.
   16
3. Write the answer.
   16

Check. Check: 16 is bigger than 15 and smaller than 17.

Watch out. Do not include the two numbers at the ends.

Method. Find the numbers in between by counting on from the smaller number.

1. Start at the smaller number. Count on one at a time.
   14
2. Count on until just before the bigger one. The numbers in between come after the smaller one.
   15, 16
3. Write the answer.
   15 and 16

Check. Check: 15 and 16 is bigger than 14 and smaller than 17.

Watch out. Do not include the two numbers at the ends.

Method. Put the numbers in order from the smallest. Start with the smallest.

1. Find the smallest number. It goes first in the list.
   9
2. Put the rest in order. Each number is bigger than the one before.
   9, 16, 18
3. Write the answer.
   9, 16, 18

Check. Read the list again. Each number is bigger than the one before. ✓

Watch out. Compare the tens digit first when the numbers are big.

Method. Put the numbers in order from the biggest. Start with the biggest.

1. Find the biggest number. It goes first in this list.
   18
2. Put the rest in order. Each number is smaller than the one before.
   18, 12, 1
3. Write the answer.
   18, 12, 1

Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before. ✓

Watch out. Biggest first means the list goes down.

Method. Compare the two numbers. Which one comes later when we count?

1. Say both numbers. The numbers are 17 and 15.
   17 and 15
2. Compare them. The number further along the count is bigger.
   17 is greater than 15
3. Write the answer.
   17

Check. Count from 15 to 17. 17 comes later, so it is bigger. ✓

Watch out. Bigger numbers come later in the count, even when the digits look different.

Method. Compare the two numbers. Which one comes later when we count?

1. Say both numbers. The numbers are 4 and 9.
   4 and 9
2. Compare them. The number further along the count is bigger.
   4 is less than 9
3. Write the answer.
   4

Check. Count from 4 to 9. 9 comes later, so it is bigger. ✓

Watch out. Bigger numbers come later in the count, even when the digits look different.

Method. One less means the number just before when we count back.

1. Start at the number. We begin where we are.
   18
2. Count back one. Say the number that comes just before.
   18 - 1 = 17
3. Write the answer.
   17

Check. Count on one: 17 add 1 is 18. It works.

Watch out. One less is the number before, not the number after.

Method. One more means the next number when we count on.

1. Start at the number. We begin where we are.
   14
2. Count on one. Say the number that comes next.
   14 + 1 = 15
3. Write the answer.
   15

Check. Count back one: 15 take away 1 is 14. It works.

Watch out. One more is the next number, not the same number.

Method. Find the numbers in between by counting on from the smaller number.

1. Start at the smaller number. Count on one at a time.
   6
2. Count on until just before the bigger one. The numbers in between come after the smaller one.
   7
3. Write the answer.
   7

Check. Check: 7 is bigger than 6 and smaller than 8.

Watch out. Do not include the two numbers at the ends.

Method. Find the numbers in between by counting on from the smaller number.

1. Start at the smaller number. Count on one at a time.
   2
2. Count on until just before the bigger one. The numbers in between come after the smaller one.
   3, 4
3. Write the answer.
   3 and 4

Check. Check: 3 and 4 is bigger than 2 and smaller than 5.

Watch out. Do not include the two numbers at the ends.

Method. Put the numbers in order from the smallest. Start with the smallest.

1. Find the smallest number. It goes first in the list.
   3
2. Put the rest in order. Each number is bigger than the one before.
   3, 13, 19
3. Write the answer.
   3, 13, 19

Check. Read the list again. Each number is bigger than the one before. ✓

Watch out. Compare the tens digit first when the numbers are big.

Method. Put the numbers in order from the biggest. Start with the biggest.

1. Find the biggest number. It goes first in this list.
   14
2. Put the rest in order. Each number is smaller than the one before.
   14, 6, 1
3. Write the answer.
   14, 6, 1

Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before. ✓

Watch out. Biggest first means the list goes down.

Method. Compare the two numbers. Which one comes later when we count?

1. Say both numbers. The numbers are 6 and 5.
   6 and 5
2. Compare them. The number further along the count is bigger.
   6 is greater than 5
3. Write the answer.
   6

Check. Count from 5 to 6. 6 comes later, so it is bigger. ✓

Watch out. Bigger numbers come later in the count, even when the digits look different.

Method. Compare the two numbers. Which one comes later when we count?

1. Say both numbers. The numbers are 1 and 19.
   1 and 19
2. Compare them. The number further along the count is bigger.
   1 is less than 19
3. Write the answer.
   1

Check. Count from 1 to 19. 19 comes later, so it is bigger. ✓

Watch out. Bigger numbers come later in the count, even when the digits look different.

Method. Count the cubes in each row. Then say which group has more or fewer.

1. Count group A. Touch each cube once.
   A has 4
2. Count group B. Touch each cube once.
   B has 5
3. Compare the two numbers. 5 is bigger than 4, so one group has more.
   Group B

Check. The difference is 5 take away 4, which is 1. ✓

Watch out. Read the letter first. A is the top row, B is the bottom row.

Method. Count the cubes in each row. Then say which group has more or fewer.

1. Count group A. Touch each cube once.
   A has 6
2. Count group B. Touch each cube once.
   B has 4
3. Compare the two numbers. 6 is bigger than 4, so one group has fewer.
   Group B

Check. The difference is 6 take away 4, which is 2. ✓

Watch out. Read the letter first. A is the top row, B is the bottom row.