Step-by-step Maths Level 2: Putting numbers in order
Part of the Step-by-step Maths Level 2 comparing and ordering to 100 chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Putting numbers in order
To put numbers in order, look at the tens first. The number with the fewest tens is the smallest.
Then look at the ones when two numbers have the same tens.
Key ideas
- Smallest to largest: the numbers get bigger.
- Largest to smallest: the numbers get smaller.
- Check your list by reading it again.
Method. Put the numbers in order, smallest to largest. Find the first one and then the next.
- Look at the tens of each number. The numbers with fewer tens are smaller.45: 4 tens, 27: 2 tens, 63: 6 tens, 38: 3 tens
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.27
- Write the numbers in order. Check that each one fits between the ones next to it.27, 38, 45, 63
Check. Read the list again. Each number is bigger than the one before.
Watch out. Compare tens first. 52 comes before 61 because 5 tens is less than 6 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Find the first one and then the next.
- Look at the tens of each number. The numbers with fewer tens are smaller.81: 8 tens, 19: 1 tens, 50: 5 tens, 64: 6 tens, 33: 3 tens
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.81
- Write the numbers in order. Check that each one fits between the ones next to it.81, 64, 50, 33, 19
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before.
Watch out. Compare tens first. 52 comes before 61 because 5 tens is less than 6 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, smallest to largest. Find the first one and then the next.
- Look at the tens of each number. The numbers with fewer tens are smaller.67: 6 tens, 61: 6 tens, 76: 7 tens, 16: 1 tens
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.16
- Write the numbers in order. Check that each one fits between the ones next to it.16, 61, 67, 76
Check. Read the list again. Each number is bigger than the one before.
Watch out. Compare tens first. 52 comes before 61 because 5 tens is less than 6 tens.
Watch out
Watch out. 19 is smaller than 91, even though the ones digit 9 is the same. Look at the tens first.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Write each number on a card and lay them in a line. Move the cards until the line goes up.
Exercise 3B Practice: putting numbers in order
Non-calculatorMethod. Put the numbers in order, smallest to largest. Find the first one and then the next.
- Look at the tens of each number. The numbers with fewer tens are smaller.36: 3 tens, 47: 4 tens, 78: 7 tens, 68: 6 tens, 97: 9 tens
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.36
- Write the numbers in order. Check that each one fits between the ones next to it.36, 47, 68, 78, 97
Check. Read the list again. Each number is bigger than the one before.
Watch out. Compare tens first. 52 comes before 61 because 5 tens is less than 6 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Find the first one and then the next.
- Look at the tens of each number. The numbers with fewer tens are smaller.20: 2 tens, 97: 9 tens, 74: 7 tens, 59: 5 tens, 96: 9 tens
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.97
- Write the numbers in order. Check that each one fits between the ones next to it.97, 96, 74, 59, 20
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before.
Watch out. Compare tens first. 52 comes before 61 because 5 tens is less than 6 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Find the first one and then the next.
- Look at the tens of each number. The numbers with fewer tens are smaller.37: 3 tens, 51: 5 tens, 96: 9 tens, 46: 4 tens
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.96
- Write the numbers in order. Check that each one fits between the ones next to it.96, 51, 46, 37
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before.
Watch out. Compare tens first. 52 comes before 61 because 5 tens is less than 6 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Find the first one and then the next.
- Look at the tens of each number. The numbers with fewer tens are smaller.44: 4 tens, 35: 3 tens, 48: 4 tens, 55: 5 tens, 22: 2 tens
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.55
- Write the numbers in order. Check that each one fits between the ones next to it.55, 48, 44, 35, 22
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before.
Watch out. Compare tens first. 52 comes before 61 because 5 tens is less than 6 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Find the first one and then the next.
- Look at the tens of each number. The numbers with fewer tens are smaller.97: 9 tens, 16: 1 tens, 84: 8 tens, 11: 1 tens, 73: 7 tens
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.97
- Write the numbers in order. Check that each one fits between the ones next to it.97, 84, 73, 16, 11
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before.
Watch out. Compare tens first. 52 comes before 61 because 5 tens is less than 6 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, smallest to largest. Find the first one and then the next.
- Look at the tens of each number. The numbers with fewer tens are smaller.68: 6 tens, 91: 9 tens, 34: 3 tens, 41: 4 tens
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.34
- Write the numbers in order. Check that each one fits between the ones next to it.34, 41, 68, 91
Check. Read the list again. Each number is bigger than the one before.
Watch out. Compare tens first. 52 comes before 61 because 5 tens is less than 6 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Find the first one and then the next.
- Look at the tens of each number. The numbers with fewer tens are smaller.45: 4 tens, 92: 9 tens, 16: 1 tens, 34: 3 tens
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.92
- Write the numbers in order. Check that each one fits between the ones next to it.92, 45, 34, 16
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before.
Watch out. Compare tens first. 52 comes before 61 because 5 tens is less than 6 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Find the first one and then the next.
- Look at the tens of each number. The numbers with fewer tens are smaller.20: 2 tens, 16: 1 tens, 32: 3 tens, 34: 3 tens
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.34
- Write the numbers in order. Check that each one fits between the ones next to it.34, 32, 20, 16
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before.
Watch out. Compare tens first. 52 comes before 61 because 5 tens is less than 6 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, smallest to largest. Find the first one and then the next.
- Look at the tens of each number. The numbers with fewer tens are smaller.67: 6 tens, 75: 7 tens, 37: 3 tens, 58: 5 tens
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.37
- Write the numbers in order. Check that each one fits between the ones next to it.37, 58, 67, 75
Check. Read the list again. Each number is bigger than the one before.
Watch out. Compare tens first. 52 comes before 61 because 5 tens is less than 6 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Find the first one and then the next.
- Look at the tens of each number. The numbers with fewer tens are smaller.27: 2 tens, 66: 6 tens, 30: 3 tens, 90: 9 tens
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.90
- Write the numbers in order. Check that each one fits between the ones next to it.90, 66, 30, 27
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before.
Watch out. Compare tens first. 52 comes before 61 because 5 tens is less than 6 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Find the first one and then the next.
- Look at the tens of each number. The numbers with fewer tens are smaller.24: 2 tens, 88: 8 tens, 55: 5 tens, 41: 4 tens
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.88
- Write the numbers in order. Check that each one fits between the ones next to it.88, 55, 41, 24
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before.
Watch out. Compare tens first. 52 comes before 61 because 5 tens is less than 6 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Find the first one and then the next.
- Look at the tens of each number. The numbers with fewer tens are smaller.66: 6 tens, 78: 7 tens, 28: 2 tens, 24: 2 tens, 29: 2 tens
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.78
- Write the numbers in order. Check that each one fits between the ones next to it.78, 66, 29, 28, 24
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before.
Watch out. Compare tens first. 52 comes before 61 because 5 tens is less than 6 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, smallest to largest. Find the first one and then the next.
- Look at the tens of each number. The numbers with fewer tens are smaller.53: 5 tens, 60: 6 tens, 94: 9 tens, 77: 7 tens
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.53
- Write the numbers in order. Check that each one fits between the ones next to it.53, 60, 77, 94
Check. Read the list again. Each number is bigger than the one before.
Watch out. Compare tens first. 52 comes before 61 because 5 tens is less than 6 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, smallest to largest. Find the first one and then the next.
- Look at the tens of each number. The numbers with fewer tens are smaller.33: 3 tens, 31: 3 tens, 30: 3 tens, 87: 8 tens
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.30
- Write the numbers in order. Check that each one fits between the ones next to it.30, 31, 33, 87
Check. Read the list again. Each number is bigger than the one before.
Watch out. Compare tens first. 52 comes before 61 because 5 tens is less than 6 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, smallest to largest. Find the first one and then the next.
- Look at the tens of each number. The numbers with fewer tens are smaller.90: 9 tens, 86: 8 tens, 30: 3 tens, 51: 5 tens
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.30
- Write the numbers in order. Check that each one fits between the ones next to it.30, 51, 86, 90
Check. Read the list again. Each number is bigger than the one before.
Watch out. Compare tens first. 52 comes before 61 because 5 tens is less than 6 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, smallest to largest. Find the first one and then the next.
- Look at the tens of each number. The numbers with fewer tens are smaller.15: 1 tens, 64: 6 tens, 63: 6 tens, 79: 7 tens, 78: 7 tens
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.15
- Write the numbers in order. Check that each one fits between the ones next to it.15, 63, 64, 78, 79
Check. Read the list again. Each number is bigger than the one before.
Watch out. Compare tens first. 52 comes before 61 because 5 tens is less than 6 tens.