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D.1 Comparing numbers up to 100

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What does it mean to compare numbers?

Comparing numbers means deciding if one number is greater than, less than, or equal to another number.

Examples:
  • 45 is less than 60 → 45 < 60
  • 82 is greater than 70 → 82 > 70
  • 29 is equal to 29 → 29 = 29
Note

When comparing numbers, always check the digits in the tens place first, then the ones place if needed.

How do you compare numbers?

To compare two numbers, look at the tens digit first. If the tens digits are the same, then compare the ones digit.

Steps:
  • Compare 46 and 52
  • Step 1: Look at the tens place → 4 tens vs. 5 tens
  • Step 2: 4 tens is less than 5 tens → 46 < 52
Note

The tens digit tells us how many groups of ten a number has. More tens means a bigger number.

Symbols for comparing numbers

We use special symbols to show how numbers compare:

Symbols:
  • < means "less than"
  • > means "greater than"
  • = means "equal to"
Note

A quick tip: the smaller end of the < or > symbol points to the smaller number.

Using number lines to compare

A number line helps us see which numbers are greater or smaller by their position.

Examples:
  • On a number line, 34 is to the left of 47 → 34 < 47
  • On a number line, 89 is to the right of 76 → 89 > 76
Note

On a number line, numbers increase as you move to the right and decrease as you move to the left.

Comparing equal numbers

When two numbers are the same, we say they are equal and use the = symbol.

Examples:
  • 56 and 56 are the same → 56 = 56
  • 100 and 100 are the same → 100 = 100
Note

If two numbers have the same tens digit and the same ones digit, then they are equal.