Comparing & Ordering Numbers

≈ 15 min

To compare two whole numbers, line them up by place value and read from the left. The first column where they differ decides which is bigger.

We record the result with $>$ (greater than), $<$ (less than) or $=$ (equal). The wide-open end always faces the bigger number: $3\,450 > 3\,405$ .

Ordering just means comparing several numbers and lining them up — ascending (smallest to largest) or descending (largest to smallest).

Worked example. Put $2\,300$ , $2\,030$ and $2\,003$ in ascending order.

They all start with $2$ thousands. Compare the hundreds: $3$ , $0$ , $0$ — so $2\,300$ is the largest. Between $2\,030$ and $2\,003$ , the tens decide: $3 > 0$ , so $2\,030 > 2\,003$ .

Ascending: $2\,003,\; 2\,030,\; 2\,300$ .

Which symbol makes this true: $3\,450 \;\square\; 3\,405$ ?

$>$

$<$

$=$

Which list shows $2\,300$ , $2\,030$ and $2\,003$ in order from smallest to largest?

$2\,003,\; 2\,030,\; 2\,300$

$2\,300,\; 2\,030,\; 2\,003$

$2\,030,\; 2\,003,\; 2\,300$

$2\,003,\; 2\,300,\; 2\,030$

What is the smallest four-digit whole number?

Using the digits $4$ , $0$ , $8$ and $2$ once each, what is the largest four-digit number you can make?