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ELI5 Yahaaa

Comparing

Which Number Is Bigger?

Comparing numbers means asking which one you reach later when counting up.

Further along the count The bigger numberReached sooner The smaller number
Position on the number line settles every comparison.

  1. Step 1 of 5

    Match them up one to one.

    Group AGroup B
    It is the only comparison that still works before you can count.

    Line up two groups side by side and pair off. Whichever group still has items left over is the bigger one. No counting needed.

  2. Step 2 of 5

    Or use the number line.

    1 Find bothnumbers2 Bigger isfurther right3 Compare

    Numbers get bigger as you go right. Whichever number sits further right is the larger one, every time.

  3. Step 3 of 5

    The symbol opens toward the bigger number.

    The wide end facesthe biggerThe point faces thesmaller7 is greater than 33 is less than 7
    Both sentences say the identical thing, written from opposite ends.

    The wide end of > and < always faces the larger value. 7 > 3 and 3 < 7 say exactly the same thing.

  4. Step 4 of 5

    For big numbers, compare digit by digit.

    1 Count thedigits first2 Then compareleft to right3=Firstdifferencedecides

    First count the digits — more digits wins. If they match, compare from the left until they differ. That first difference decides it.

  5. Step 5 of 5

    Careful with decimals and negatives.

    Guess −10 looks bigger than−2Truth −10 is further left,so smaller

    0.5 is bigger than 0.45, even though 45 beats 5. And −10 is smaller than −2, because it sits further left on the line.

    A crocodile mouth is the classic memory trick — the open jaws always face the bigger meal.

The short version

A number is bigger if it sits further right on the number line, whatever it looks like.

Try it yourself

Write two random four-digit numbers and compare them left to right. You will usually know the answer after one or two digits.

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