Unit 1: Number Sense
Topic C: Ordering Numerals
In this topic you will learn to arrange numerals in order from smallest to largest. Sorting numbered papers such as order forms, arranging items by the date and comparing prices are examples of the ways you use this skill. First look at pairs of numerals. Look at two numerals and tell which one is larger. How do you do this?
Exercise One
Identify the larger number in each pair.
- 431; 484 – 484 is larger
- 267; 251
- 684; 693
- 274; 315
- 932; 895
- 792; 810
Answers to Exercise One
- 267
- 693
- 315
- 932
- 810
To compare numerals, look at the place with the largest value.
Example A: Compare 1 628 and 1 599.
- thousands are the same.
- hundreds
- 1628 has 6 hundreds.
- 1599 has 5 hundreds.
- 1628 is larger than 1 599.
Example B: Compare 13 562 and 13 612
- ten thousands are the same
- thousands are the same
- hundreds
- 13562 has 5 hundreds
- 13612 has 6 hundreds
- 13612 is larger than 13562.
Example C: Compare 673234 and 673423
- hundred thousands are the same
- ten thousands are the same
- thousands are the same
- hundreds
- 673234 has 2 hundreds
- 673423 has 4 hundreds
- 673423 is larger than 673234.
Note: Numerals with one digit are always less than numerals with two digits. Numerals with two digits are always less than numerals with three digits, and so on.
- 9 is less than 15
- 87 is less than 107
- 999 is less than 1 001
Exercise Two
Draw a box around the larger numeral in each pair. Check your work using the answer key at the end of the exercise.
- 1016; 1316
- 1229; 1329
- 5230; 5210
- 2151; 2159
- 83476; 93475
- 31276; 31576
- 46821; 46801
- 343; 3740
- 8325; 8236
Answers to Exercise Two
- 1329
- 5230
- 2159
- 93476
- 31576
- 46821
- 3740
- 8325
Now use the same ideas to arrange more than two numerals in order.
For example, to arrange 6, 616, 1, 66, 666, 61, and 16 in order from smallest to largest, use the following method:
- First, sort the numerals with the same number of digits into groups.
- 6, 1
- 66, 16, 61
- and 616, 666
- The group of one digit numerals contains 6 and 1. As 1 is smaller than 6, the list starts with 1, then 6.
- The group of two-digit numerals contains 66, 61, and 16. Use your skills in ordering numerals to see that 16 is smallest, then 61, and 66 is the largest of this group. The list now reads, 1, 6, 16, 61, 66.
- Finally, look at the three-digit numerals, 616 and 666. As 616 is smaller than 666, it will come first. The list now reads:
- 1, 6, 16, 61, 66, 616, 666.
Exercise Three
Arrange these numbers in order from smallest to largest. Check your work using the answer key at the end of the exercise.
- 1235; 1352; 1523; 1253
- 47259; 42759; 45279; 47592
- 73050; 76940; 79053; 73502
- 456 719; 465 981; 546 423; 564 082
- 12546; 5781; 423; 172901
- 114444; 444; 14; 1114444; 44
- 777; 17; 71; 7177; 717; 77177
Answers to Exercise Three
- 1235, 1253, 1352, 1523
- 42759, 45279, 47259, 47592
- 73050, 73, 502, 76940, 79053
- 456719, 465981, 546423, 564082
- 423, 5781, 12546, 172901
- 14, 44, 444, 114444, 1114444
- 17, 71, 717, 777, 7177, 77177
Greater Than, Less Than, Equal
The sign < means is less than (smaller than).
The sign > means is greater than (bigger than).
The greater than and less than signs always point to the smaller number (that is, the small part of the sign is close to the small number.)
5 < 12 5 is less than 12
6 > 3 6 is greater than 3
The sign = means equals and is used when two amounts are the same.
The sign ≠ means not equal to and is used when two amounts are not the same.
Exercise Three
Write <, >, or = in each blank as needed. Check your work using the answer key at the end of the exercise.
- 4376 12376
- 342981 324762
- 1520 1530
- 5821 5821
- 3674 3296
- 6214 6251
Answers to Exercise Three
- <
- >
- <
- =
- >
- <
Topic C: Self-Test
Mark /12 Aim 10/12
- Box the larger number of each pair. (6 marks)
- 9784; 7892
- 56663; 56566
- 13204; 14420
- 721011; 721101
- 461300; 416003
- 2879921; 2987721
- Arrange these numerals in order from smallest to largest. (2 marks)
- 75; 754; 475; 47; 5747; 5774; 77575
- 18; 23070; 429; 7824; 37; 994; 1120
- Write >, <. or = in each blank to make a true statement. (4 marks)
- 3678 3768
- 14002 14000
- 38463 3846
- 10010 10010
Answers to Topic C: Self-Test
-
- 9784
- 56663
- 14420
- 721101
- 461300
- 2987721
-
- 47, 75, 475, 754, 5747, 5774, 77575
- 18, 37, 429, 994, 1120, 7824, 23070
-
- <
- >
- >
- =