Step-by-step Maths Level 3: Putting numbers in order
Part of the Step-by-step Maths Level 3 comparing and ordering to 1000 chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Putting numbers in order
To put numbers in order, look at the hundreds first. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.
If two numbers have the same hundreds, look at the tens. Then look at the ones.
Key ideas
- Order by hundreds, then tens, then ones.
- Smallest to largest: the smallest number comes first.
- Largest to smallest: the largest number comes first.
Method. Put the numbers in order, smallest to largest. Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds of each number. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.512: 5 hundreds, 409: 4 hundreds, 527: 5 hundreds, 415: 4 hundreds
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.409
- Write all the numbers in order. Check each one fits between the ones next to it.409, 415, 512, 527
Check. Read the list again. Each number is bigger than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare hundreds first. 508 is less than 521, because 5 hundreds is the same but 0 tens is less than 2 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds of each number. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.640: 6 hundreds, 604: 6 hundreds, 46: 0 hundreds, 460: 4 hundreds
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.640
- Write all the numbers in order. Check each one fits between the ones next to it.640, 604, 460, 46
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare hundreds first. 508 is less than 521, because 5 hundreds is the same but 0 tens is less than 2 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, smallest to largest. Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds of each number. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.250: 2 hundreds, 205: 2 hundreds, 520: 5 hundreds, 502: 5 hundreds
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.205
- Write all the numbers in order. Check each one fits between the ones next to it.205, 250, 502, 520
Check. Read the list again. Each number is bigger than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare hundreds first. 508 is less than 521, because 5 hundreds is the same but 0 tens is less than 2 tens.
Watch out
Watch out. 46 is less than 460, not greater. Check the number of hundreds, not just the first digit you see.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Write each number on a card and move the cards into order. Ask: “Which one comes first?”
Exercise 3B Practice: putting numbers in order
Non-calculatorMethod. Put the numbers in order, smallest to largest. Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds of each number. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.634: 6 hundreds, 208: 2 hundreds, 466: 4 hundreds, 636: 6 hundreds, 885: 8 hundreds
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.208
- Write all the numbers in order. Check each one fits between the ones next to it.208, 466, 634, 636, 885
Check. Read the list again. Each number is bigger than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare hundreds first. 508 is less than 521, because 5 hundreds is the same but 0 tens is less than 2 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds of each number. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.904: 9 hundreds, 161: 1 hundreds, 197: 1 hundreds, 157: 1 hundreds, 120: 1 hundreds
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.904
- Write all the numbers in order. Check each one fits between the ones next to it.904, 197, 161, 157, 120
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare hundreds first. 508 is less than 521, because 5 hundreds is the same but 0 tens is less than 2 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds of each number. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.148: 1 hundreds, 557: 5 hundreds, 961: 9 hundreds, 842: 8 hundreds
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.961
- Write all the numbers in order. Check each one fits between the ones next to it.961, 842, 557, 148
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare hundreds first. 508 is less than 521, because 5 hundreds is the same but 0 tens is less than 2 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds of each number. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.716: 7 hundreds, 805: 8 hundreds, 264: 2 hundreds, 303: 3 hundreds
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.805
- Write all the numbers in order. Check each one fits between the ones next to it.805, 716, 303, 264
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare hundreds first. 508 is less than 521, because 5 hundreds is the same but 0 tens is less than 2 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds of each number. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.914: 9 hundreds, 604: 6 hundreds, 201: 2 hundreds, 774: 7 hundreds
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.914
- Write all the numbers in order. Check each one fits between the ones next to it.914, 774, 604, 201
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare hundreds first. 508 is less than 521, because 5 hundreds is the same but 0 tens is less than 2 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, smallest to largest. Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds of each number. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.968: 9 hundreds, 849: 8 hundreds, 863: 8 hundreds, 938: 9 hundreds, 325: 3 hundreds
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.325
- Write all the numbers in order. Check each one fits between the ones next to it.325, 849, 863, 938, 968
Check. Read the list again. Each number is bigger than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare hundreds first. 508 is less than 521, because 5 hundreds is the same but 0 tens is less than 2 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, smallest to largest. Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds of each number. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.276: 2 hundreds, 621: 6 hundreds, 132: 1 hundreds, 925: 9 hundreds, 389: 3 hundreds
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.132
- Write all the numbers in order. Check each one fits between the ones next to it.132, 276, 389, 621, 925
Check. Read the list again. Each number is bigger than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare hundreds first. 508 is less than 521, because 5 hundreds is the same but 0 tens is less than 2 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds of each number. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.941: 9 hundreds, 532: 5 hundreds, 176: 1 hundreds
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.941
- Write all the numbers in order. Check each one fits between the ones next to it.941, 532, 176
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare hundreds first. 508 is less than 521, because 5 hundreds is the same but 0 tens is less than 2 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, smallest to largest. Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds of each number. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.947: 9 hundreds, 673: 6 hundreds, 425: 4 hundreds
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.425
- Write all the numbers in order. Check each one fits between the ones next to it.425, 673, 947
Check. Read the list again. Each number is bigger than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare hundreds first. 508 is less than 521, because 5 hundreds is the same but 0 tens is less than 2 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds of each number. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.114: 1 hundreds, 777: 7 hundreds, 331: 3 hundreds, 999: 9 hundreds, 301: 3 hundreds
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.999
- Write all the numbers in order. Check each one fits between the ones next to it.999, 777, 331, 301, 114
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare hundreds first. 508 is less than 521, because 5 hundreds is the same but 0 tens is less than 2 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds of each number. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.845: 8 hundreds, 864: 8 hundreds, 164: 1 hundreds
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.864
- Write all the numbers in order. Check each one fits between the ones next to it.864, 845, 164
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare hundreds first. 508 is less than 521, because 5 hundreds is the same but 0 tens is less than 2 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds of each number. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.886: 8 hundreds, 599: 5 hundreds, 748: 7 hundreds, 496: 4 hundreds
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.886
- Write all the numbers in order. Check each one fits between the ones next to it.886, 748, 599, 496
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare hundreds first. 508 is less than 521, because 5 hundreds is the same but 0 tens is less than 2 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, smallest to largest. Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds of each number. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.575: 5 hundreds, 509: 5 hundreds, 652: 6 hundreds, 580: 5 hundreds
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.509
- Write all the numbers in order. Check each one fits between the ones next to it.509, 575, 580, 652
Check. Read the list again. Each number is bigger than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare hundreds first. 508 is less than 521, because 5 hundreds is the same but 0 tens is less than 2 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds of each number. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.314: 3 hundreds, 200: 2 hundreds, 195: 1 hundreds, 461: 4 hundreds
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.461
- Write all the numbers in order. Check each one fits between the ones next to it.461, 314, 200, 195
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare hundreds first. 508 is less than 521, because 5 hundreds is the same but 0 tens is less than 2 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, smallest to largest. Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds of each number. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.979: 9 hundreds, 722: 7 hundreds, 557: 5 hundreds
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.557
- Write all the numbers in order. Check each one fits between the ones next to it.557, 722, 979
Check. Read the list again. Each number is bigger than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare hundreds first. 508 is less than 521, because 5 hundreds is the same but 0 tens is less than 2 tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, largest to smallest. Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds of each number. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.577: 5 hundreds, 525: 5 hundreds, 806: 8 hundreds
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.806
- Write all the numbers in order. Check each one fits between the ones next to it.806, 577, 525
Check. Read the list again. Each number is smaller than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare hundreds first. 508 is less than 521, because 5 hundreds is the same but 0 tens is less than 2 tens.