Grade 1 · Unit 1: Number and place value

Ordering numbers

Which number is bigger? Which comes first?

Lining up

We can put things in order: shortest to tallest, smallest to biggest. Numbers can be put in order too. A number line shows numbers in order.

On the number line

Numbers get bigger as you go right. 15 is to the right of 8, so 15 is bigger. Numbers to the left are smaller.

Greater than and less than

We write 15 > 8. It means 15 is greater than 8. We write 8 < 15. It means 8 is less than 15. The open mouth of the sign always faces the bigger number.

Comparing tens first

To compare 2-digit numbers, look at the tens first. 52 has 5 tens. 48 has 4 tens. So 52 > 48. If the tens are the same, look at the ones.

To order 31, 13, 30 and 3 from smallest to largest: 3, 13, 30, 31. Compare the tens, then the ones.

Ten more, ten less

Find 34 on the hundred square. Ten more is one row down: 44. Ten less is one row up: 24. Only the tens digit changes!

What I learnt

• I can order numbers from smallest to largest.
• I can use the signs > and < to compare numbers.