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Step-by-step practice: Maths · Level 3Chapter 3 · Comparing and ordering to 1000
Step-by-step Maths Level 3 · Comparing and ordering to 1000 · Lesson 3.1

Step-by-step Maths Level 3: Comparing two numbers

Part of the Step-by-step Maths Level 3 comparing and ordering to 1000 chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

3.1

Comparing two numbers

Level 3
Compare two numbers up to 1000 using <, > and =

The sign < means less than. The sign > means greater than. The sign = means equal to.

Compare the hundreds first. If they are the same, compare the tens. If the tens are the same, compare the ones.

Key ideas

  • Hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
  • < is less than, > is greater than.
  • The sign = means both numbers are the same.
Worked example 3.1.1
Write <, > or = to make it true: 408 □ 480

Method. Compare the hundreds first. If they are the same, compare the tens. Then compare the ones.

  1. Start with the hundreds digits. The digit in the largest place decides first.
    4 and 4
  2. The tens decide. 0 is fewer than 8 in the tens place.
    0 and 8
  3. Write the sign. 408 is less than 480.
    <

Check. 408 < 480 is true.

Watch out. Compare from the left. 480 is greater than 408.

Worked example 3.1.2
Write <, > or = to make it true: 625 □ 591

Method. Compare the hundreds first. If they are the same, compare the tens. Then compare the ones.

  1. Start with the hundreds digits. The digit in the largest place decides first.
    6 and 5
  2. The hundreds decide. 6 is more than 5 in the hundreds place.
    6 and 5
  3. Write the sign. 625 is greater than 591.
    >

Check. 625 > 591 is true.

Watch out. Compare from the left. 625 is greater than 591.

Worked example 3.1.3
Write <, > or = to make it true: 357 □ 357

Method. Compare the hundreds first. If they are the same, compare the tens. Then compare the ones.

  1. Start with the hundreds digits. The digit in the largest place decides first.
    3 and 3
  2. All the digits are the same. The numbers are equal.
    357 and 357 are the same
  3. Write the sign. 357 is equal to 357.
    =

Check. 357 = 357 is true.

Watch out. Compare from the left. 357 is greater than 357.

Watch out

Watch out. 480 is greater than 408, because 8 tens is more than 0 tens. Do not compare the ones first.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. The sign is a little mouth that eats the bigger number. Ask: “Which number is bigger? Point to the open side.”

Exercise 3A  Practice: comparing with <, > and =

Non-calculator
1
FWrite <, > or = to make it true: 761 □ 757
2
FWrite <, > or = to make it true: 818 □ 282
3
FWrite <, > or = to make it true: 600 □ 545
4
FWrite <, > or = to make it true: 380 □ 607
5
FWrite <, > or = to make it true: 804 □ 376
6
FWrite <, > or = to make it true: 675 □ 602
7
FWrite <, > or = to make it true: 526 □ 536
8
FWrite <, > or = to make it true: 426 □ 825
9
FWrite <, > or = to make it true: 555 □ 250
10
FWrite <, > or = to make it true: 310 □ 212
11
FWrite <, > or = to make it true: 213 □ 234
12
FWrite <, > or = to make it true: 990 □ 465
13
FWrite <, > or = to make it true: 884 □ 562
14
FWrite <, > or = to make it true: 393 □ 626
15
FWrite <, > or = to make it true: 578 □ 515
16
FWrite <, > or = to make it true: 953 □ 915

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