Step-by-step Maths Level 1: Putting numbers in order
Part of the Step-by-step Maths Level 1 before, after and between chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Putting numbers in order
To put numbers in order, look at them all first.
Smallest first means the list goes up. Biggest first means the list goes down.
Key ideas
- Smallest first: the list goes up.
- Biggest first: the list goes down.
- Check each number is bigger than the one before.
Method. Find the smallest first, then put the rest in order.
- Find the smallest number. Six is the smallest.6
- Put the others in order. Eleven is next, then fourteen.6, 11, 14
- Write the answer. 6, 11, 14
Check. Each number is bigger than the one before. It is in order.
Watch out. Compare the tens first. Fourteen is more than eleven.
Method. Find the biggest first, then put the rest in order.
- Find the biggest number. Seventeen is the biggest.17
- Put the others in order. Nine is next, then three.17, 9, 3
- Write the answer. 17, 9, 3
Check. Each number is smaller than the one before. It is in order.
Watch out. The list goes down when it is biggest first.
Method. Find the smallest first, then the rest.
- Find the smallest number. Two is the smallest.2
- Put the others in order. Twelve comes before twenty.2, 12, 20
- Write the answer. 2, 12, 20
Check. Count from 2 to 20. The numbers appear in the same order.
Watch out. Do not read 20 before 12. Twenty is the biggest.
Watch out
Watch out. Do not put 9 after 10. Nine is smaller than ten, so it comes first.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Write three numbers on cards. Mix them up, then put them in order. Ask: “Which is smallest? Which is next?”
Exercise 3C Putting numbers in order
Non-calculatorMethod. Put the numbers in order from the smallest. Start with the smallest.
- Find the smallest number. It goes first in the list.6
- Put the rest in order. Each number is bigger than the one before.6, 19, 20
- Write the answer. 6, 19, 20
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.
- Find the biggest number. It goes first in this list.20
- Put the rest in order. Each number is smaller than the one before.20, 15, 13
- Write the answer. 20, 15, 13
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before. ✓
Watch out. Biggest first means the list goes down.
Method. Put the numbers in order from the smallest. Start with the smallest.
- Find the smallest number. It goes first in the list.9
- Put the rest in order. Each number is bigger than the one before.9, 16, 19
- Write the answer. 9, 16, 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.
- Find the biggest number. It goes first in this list.13
- Put the rest in order. Each number is smaller than the one before.13, 12, 3
- Write the answer. 13, 12, 3
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before. ✓
Watch out. Biggest first means the list goes down.
Method. Put the numbers in order from the smallest. Start with the smallest.
- Find the smallest number. It goes first in the list.1
- Put the rest in order. Each number is bigger than the one before.1, 12, 13
- Write the answer. 1, 12, 13
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.
- Find the biggest number. It goes first in this list.19
- Put the rest in order. Each number is smaller than the one before.19, 14, 3
- Write the answer. 19, 14, 3
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before. ✓
Watch out. Biggest first means the list goes down.
Method. Put the numbers in order from the smallest. Start with the smallest.
- Find the smallest number. It goes first in the list.2
- Put the rest in order. Each number is bigger than the one before.2, 11, 12
- Write the answer. 2, 11, 12
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.
- Find the biggest number. It goes first in this list.20
- Put the rest in order. Each number is smaller than the one before.20, 9, 5
- Write the answer. 20, 9, 5
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before. ✓
Watch out. Biggest first means the list goes down.
Method. Put the numbers in order from the smallest. Start with the smallest.
- Find the smallest number. It goes first in the list.2
- Put the rest in order. Each number is bigger than the one before.2, 18, 19
- Write the answer. 2, 18, 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.
- Find the biggest number. It goes first in this list.17
- Put the rest in order. Each number is smaller than the one before.17, 16, 8
- Write the answer. 17, 16, 8
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before. ✓
Watch out. Biggest first means the list goes down.
Method. Put the numbers in order from the smallest. Start with the smallest.
- Find the smallest number. It goes first in the list.1
- Put the rest in order. Each number is bigger than the one before.1, 10, 18
- Write the answer. 1, 10, 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.
- Find the biggest number. It goes first in this list.18
- Put the rest in order. Each number is smaller than the one before.18, 11, 2
- Write the answer. 18, 11, 2
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before. ✓
Watch out. Biggest first means the list goes down.
Method. Put the numbers in order from the smallest. Start with the smallest.
- Find the smallest number. It goes first in the list.2
- Put the rest in order. Each number is bigger than the one before.2, 12, 20
- Write the answer. 2, 12, 20
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.
- Find the biggest number. It goes first in this list.15
- Put the rest in order. Each number is smaller than the one before.15, 12, 5
- Write the answer. 15, 12, 5
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before. ✓
Watch out. Biggest first means the list goes down.
Method. Put the numbers in order from the smallest. Start with the smallest.
- Find the smallest number. It goes first in the list.2
- Put the rest in order. Each number is bigger than the one before.2, 14, 17
- Write the answer. 2, 14, 17
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.
- Find the biggest number. It goes first in this list.18
- Put the rest in order. Each number is smaller than the one before.18, 13, 10
- Write the answer. 18, 13, 10
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before. ✓
Watch out. Biggest first means the list goes down.