Comparing and Ordering Numbers

Comparing Numbers

Comparing numbers is the process to identify if a number is greater or lesser or equal to another number.

Following are the symbols used for comparing numbers:

Examples:

• The number 15 is greater than 9. We can write it as: 15 > 9.
• The number 21 is less than 32. We can write it as: 21 < 32.
• The number 40 is equal to 40. We can write it as: 40 = 40.

Steps to Compare Numbers

Step 1: Count the number of digits.

Step 2: If the number of digits is different, the number with more digits is greater than the number with fewer digits.

Step 3: If the number of digits is the same, start comparing the digits from the extreme left till you get the unequal digits.

Example

Question 1: Compare the numbers 23,567 and 23,786.

Answer:

Step 1: the numbers have 5 digits. On comparing the digits from the extreme left it is observed that the first unequal digit is at hundreds place.

Step 2: The number 23,567 has 5 at hundreds place and 23,786 has 7 at hundreds place. Since 7 is greater than 5, the number 23,786 is greater than 23,567. Hence, the correct answer is 23,567 < 23,786.

Question 2: Compare the numbers 54,684 and 4684.

Answer: The number 54,684 has 5 digits, and 4684 has 4 digits. We know that the number with more digits is bigger. Therefore, the correct answer is 54,684 > 4684.

Ordering Numbers

Ordering numbers means arranging the numbers in a specific order.

The numbers can be arranged in ascending order and descending order.

Ascending order: order means arranging the given numbers from smaller to bigger.

Example

• 2403, 2419, 2455
• 54907, 60000, 61578
• 5048, 56980, 70750

Descending order: order means arranging the given numbers from bigger to smaller.

Example

• 2455, 2419, 2403
• 61577, 60000, 54907
• 70750, 56980, 5048

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