Step-by-step Maths Level 4: Ordering numbers
Part of the Step-by-step Maths Level 4 comparing, ordering and rounding chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Ordering numbers
To put numbers in order, start with the thousands. Numbers with fewer thousands are smaller.
Where two numbers have the same thousands, look at the hundreds. Then look at the tens and ones.
Key ideas
- Order by the thousands first.
- Then compare the hundreds, tens and ones.
- Write each number once in the list.
Method. Compare the numbers column by column, starting with the thousands.
- Look at the thousands. Numbers with fewer thousands are smaller.1980 has 1 thousand; 2345, 2054 have 2; 3001 has 3
- Look at the hundreds for numbers with the same thousands. Compare the hundreds for 2345 and 2054.3 hundreds is more than 0 hundreds
- Order the numbers. Put them smallest to largest.1980, 2054, 2345, 3001
- Write the answer in order. Write each number once.1980, 2054, 2345, 3001
Check. Check: each number is less than the next one.
Watch out. Compare the thousands first, then the hundreds.
Method. Compare the numbers column by column, starting with the thousands.
- Look at the thousands. Four thousand is less than five thousand.4999 is smallest; the others have 5 thousands
- Look at the hundreds for the numbers with 5 thousands. The hundreds are 1, 1, 0 and 0.5101 and 5100 have 1 hundred; 5010 has 0
- Look at the tens and ones. Compare the last two digits of 5101 and 5100.5101 is more than 5100
- Write the answer in order. Largest first.5101, 5100, 5010, 4999
Check. Check: each number is greater than the next one.
Watch out. The first column that differs decides the order.
Method. Compare the numbers column by column, starting with the thousands.
- Look at the thousands. All of them have 2 or 3 thousands.2999 has 2 thousands; the others have 3
- Look at the hundreds for the numbers with 3 thousands. Compare 3050, 3005 and 3500.0 hundreds, 0 hundreds, 5 hundreds
- Look at the tens for 3050 and 3005. Both have 0 hundreds; 5 tens is more than 0 tens.3005 has 0 tens and 3050 has 5 tens
- Write the answer in order. Smallest first.2999, 3005, 3050, 3500
Check. Check: each number is greater than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare the tens before the ones when the hundreds are the same.
Watch out
Watch out. 3005 is less than 3050, because 0 tens is less than 5 tens. Compare the columns in order.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask the child to point to the thousands digit of each number before ordering. Ask: “Which is the smallest, and how do you know?”
Exercise 2B Practice: ordering numbers
Non-calculatorMethod. Compare the numbers column by column, starting with the thousands.
- Look at the thousands. Numbers with fewer thousands are smaller.4917: 4, 3848: 3, 5737: 5, 3198: 3, 4712: 4
- Look at the hundreds for numbers with the same thousands. Compare the next column only when the first is the same.Put them in groups by thousands first
- Order the numbers. Put them largest to smallest.5737, 4917, 4712, 3848, 3198
- Write the answer in order. Write each number once.5737, 4917, 4712, 3848, 3198
Check. Check: each number is greater than the next one in the list.
Watch out. Compare the thousands first, then the hundreds, then the tens, then the ones.
Method. Compare the numbers column by column, starting with the thousands.
- Look at the thousands. Numbers with fewer thousands are smaller.1631: 1, 5229: 5, 5029: 5, 7604: 7
- Look at the hundreds for numbers with the same thousands. Compare the next column only when the first is the same.Put them in groups by thousands first
- Order the numbers. Put them smallest to largest.1631, 5029, 5229, 7604
- Write the answer in order. Write each number once.1631, 5029, 5229, 7604
Check. Check: each number is less than the next one in the list.
Watch out. Compare the thousands first, then the hundreds, then the tens, then the ones.
Method. Compare the numbers column by column, starting with the thousands.
- Look at the thousands. Numbers with fewer thousands are smaller.9183: 9, 1576: 1, 4586: 4, 7726: 7, 5042: 5
- Look at the hundreds for numbers with the same thousands. Compare the next column only when the first is the same.Put them in groups by thousands first
- Order the numbers. Put them largest to smallest.9183, 7726, 5042, 4586, 1576
- Write the answer in order. Write each number once.9183, 7726, 5042, 4586, 1576
Check. Check: each number is greater than the next one in the list.
Watch out. Compare the thousands first, then the hundreds, then the tens, then the ones.
Method. Compare the numbers column by column, starting with the thousands.
- Look at the thousands. Numbers with fewer thousands are smaller.1307: 1, 9478: 9, 1533: 1, 9229: 9, 6101: 6
- Look at the hundreds for numbers with the same thousands. Compare the next column only when the first is the same.Put them in groups by thousands first
- Order the numbers. Put them smallest to largest.1307, 1533, 6101, 9229, 9478
- Write the answer in order. Write each number once.1307, 1533, 6101, 9229, 9478
Check. Check: each number is less than the next one in the list.
Watch out. Compare the thousands first, then the hundreds, then the tens, then the ones.
Method. Compare the numbers column by column, starting with the thousands.
- Look at the thousands. Numbers with fewer thousands are smaller.9202: 9, 1575: 1, 9559: 9, 9042: 9, 1027: 1
- Look at the hundreds for numbers with the same thousands. Compare the next column only when the first is the same.Put them in groups by thousands first
- Order the numbers. Put them smallest to largest.1027, 1575, 9042, 9202, 9559
- Write the answer in order. Write each number once.1027, 1575, 9042, 9202, 9559
Check. Check: each number is less than the next one in the list.
Watch out. Compare the thousands first, then the hundreds, then the tens, then the ones.
Method. Compare the numbers column by column, starting with the thousands.
- Look at the thousands. Numbers with fewer thousands are smaller.7075: 7, 9635: 9, 8300: 8, 9506: 9, 4692: 4
- Look at the hundreds for numbers with the same thousands. Compare the next column only when the first is the same.Put them in groups by thousands first
- Order the numbers. Put them smallest to largest.4692, 7075, 8300, 9506, 9635
- Write the answer in order. Write each number once.4692, 7075, 8300, 9506, 9635
Check. Check: each number is less than the next one in the list.
Watch out. Compare the thousands first, then the hundreds, then the tens, then the ones.
Method. Compare the numbers column by column, starting with the thousands.
- Look at the thousands. Numbers with fewer thousands are smaller.7400: 7, 3980: 3, 6794: 6, 6457: 6, 7141: 7
- Look at the hundreds for numbers with the same thousands. Compare the next column only when the first is the same.Put them in groups by thousands first
- Order the numbers. Put them largest to smallest.7400, 7141, 6794, 6457, 3980
- Write the answer in order. Write each number once.7400, 7141, 6794, 6457, 3980
Check. Check: each number is greater than the next one in the list.
Watch out. Compare the thousands first, then the hundreds, then the tens, then the ones.
Method. Compare the numbers column by column, starting with the thousands.
- Look at the thousands. Numbers with fewer thousands are smaller.5403: 5, 6098: 6, 6572: 6, 4831: 4, 1937: 1
- Look at the hundreds for numbers with the same thousands. Compare the next column only when the first is the same.Put them in groups by thousands first
- Order the numbers. Put them smallest to largest.1937, 4831, 5403, 6098, 6572
- Write the answer in order. Write each number once.1937, 4831, 5403, 6098, 6572
Check. Check: each number is less than the next one in the list.
Watch out. Compare the thousands first, then the hundreds, then the tens, then the ones.
Method. Compare the numbers column by column, starting with the thousands.
- Look at the thousands. Numbers with fewer thousands are smaller.1882: 1, 2322: 2, 1458: 1, 5369: 5, 1802: 1
- Look at the hundreds for numbers with the same thousands. Compare the next column only when the first is the same.Put them in groups by thousands first
- Order the numbers. Put them largest to smallest.5369, 2322, 1882, 1802, 1458
- Write the answer in order. Write each number once.5369, 2322, 1882, 1802, 1458
Check. Check: each number is greater than the next one in the list.
Watch out. Compare the thousands first, then the hundreds, then the tens, then the ones.
Method. Compare the numbers column by column, starting with the thousands.
- Look at the thousands. Numbers with fewer thousands are smaller.4868: 4, 5739: 5, 8991: 8, 6094: 6
- Look at the hundreds for numbers with the same thousands. Compare the next column only when the first is the same.Put them in groups by thousands first
- Order the numbers. Put them smallest to largest.4868, 5739, 6094, 8991
- Write the answer in order. Write each number once.4868, 5739, 6094, 8991
Check. Check: each number is less than the next one in the list.
Watch out. Compare the thousands first, then the hundreds, then the tens, then the ones.
Method. Compare the numbers column by column, starting with the thousands.
- Look at the thousands. Numbers with fewer thousands are smaller.7104: 7, 5862: 5, 9342: 9, 6392: 6
- Look at the hundreds for numbers with the same thousands. Compare the next column only when the first is the same.Put them in groups by thousands first
- Order the numbers. Put them largest to smallest.9342, 7104, 6392, 5862
- Write the answer in order. Write each number once.9342, 7104, 6392, 5862
Check. Check: each number is greater than the next one in the list.
Watch out. Compare the thousands first, then the hundreds, then the tens, then the ones.
Method. Compare the numbers column by column, starting with the thousands.
- Look at the thousands. Numbers with fewer thousands are smaller.6439: 6, 8476: 8, 8714: 8, 3601: 3
- Look at the hundreds for numbers with the same thousands. Compare the next column only when the first is the same.Put them in groups by thousands first
- Order the numbers. Put them smallest to largest.3601, 6439, 8476, 8714
- Write the answer in order. Write each number once.3601, 6439, 8476, 8714
Check. Check: each number is less than the next one in the list.
Watch out. Compare the thousands first, then the hundreds, then the tens, then the ones.
Method. Compare the numbers column by column, starting with the thousands.
- Look at the thousands. Numbers with fewer thousands are smaller.8204: 8, 8553: 8, 1078: 1, 4492: 4
- Look at the hundreds for numbers with the same thousands. Compare the next column only when the first is the same.Put them in groups by thousands first
- Order the numbers. Put them smallest to largest.1078, 4492, 8204, 8553
- Write the answer in order. Write each number once.1078, 4492, 8204, 8553
Check. Check: each number is less than the next one in the list.
Watch out. Compare the thousands first, then the hundreds, then the tens, then the ones.
Method. Compare the numbers column by column, starting with the thousands.
- Look at the thousands. Numbers with fewer thousands are smaller.8256: 8, 5566: 5, 2877: 2, 1834: 1, 5331: 5
- Look at the hundreds for numbers with the same thousands. Compare the next column only when the first is the same.Put them in groups by thousands first
- Order the numbers. Put them smallest to largest.1834, 2877, 5331, 5566, 8256
- Write the answer in order. Write each number once.1834, 2877, 5331, 5566, 8256
Check. Check: each number is less than the next one in the list.
Watch out. Compare the thousands first, then the hundreds, then the tens, then the ones.
Method. Compare the numbers column by column, starting with the thousands.
- Look at the thousands. Numbers with fewer thousands are smaller.1427: 1, 5505: 5, 6399: 6, 9427: 9
- Look at the hundreds for numbers with the same thousands. Compare the next column only when the first is the same.Put them in groups by thousands first
- Order the numbers. Put them largest to smallest.9427, 6399, 5505, 1427
- Write the answer in order. Write each number once.9427, 6399, 5505, 1427
Check. Check: each number is greater than the next one in the list.
Watch out. Compare the thousands first, then the hundreds, then the tens, then the ones.
Method. Compare the numbers column by column, starting with the thousands.
- Look at the thousands. Numbers with fewer thousands are smaller.7080: 7, 2429: 2, 2698: 2, 2362: 2, 1760: 1
- Look at the hundreds for numbers with the same thousands. Compare the next column only when the first is the same.Put them in groups by thousands first
- Order the numbers. Put them smallest to largest.1760, 2362, 2429, 2698, 7080
- Write the answer in order. Write each number once.1760, 2362, 2429, 2698, 7080
Check. Check: each number is less than the next one in the list.
Watch out. Compare the thousands first, then the hundreds, then the tens, then the ones.