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Comparing and ordering numbers with < and >

For: Ages 7-10. Updated 2026-10-15.

Step 1: count the digits

For whole numbers without leading zeros, the one with more digits is bigger: 1,002 > 998, even though 998 uses bigger digits.

Step 2: compare from the left

If the numbers have the same number of digits, line them up and compare the first digit. If those match, move one place to the right and repeat. The first place where they differ decides it.

Comparing 4,729 and 4,792
Place4,7294,792Result
Thousands44same
Hundreds77same
Tens299 is bigger, so 4,792 > 4,729

Remembering the signs

The wide open side of < or > always faces the bigger number, and the point faces the smaller one. Reading left to right, 5 < 8 says "5 is less than 8" and 8 > 5 says "8 is greater than 5".

Ordering a list

Sort the numbers by how many digits they have first, then compare within each group. Writing them in a place-value grid makes the comparison visible.

Use < or >, then order

Write < or > in each gap, then put the last list in order.

  1. 306 ___ 360
  2. 5,010 ___ 5,001
  3. 999 ___ 1,000
  4. Order from smallest: 2,404; 2,044; 2,440; 244
Show answers
  1. <
  2. >
  3. <
  4. 244; 2,044; 2,404; 2,440

Keep learning

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