Before, After and Between Numbers
Numbers follow a fixed order. Every number has a number that comes before it, a number that comes after it, and numbers that come between two other numbers.
A number line helps us see this order clearly.
0 — 1 — 2 — 3 — 4 — 5 — 6 — 7 — 8 — 9
What is Before, After and Between Numbers - Class 1 Maths (Numbers 1 to 9)?
Before means the number that comes just to the left on a number line. After means the number just to the right. Between means the number that sits in the middle of two numbers.
- Before 5 → 4 (one less)
- After 5 → 6 (one more)
- Between 4 and 6 → 5
Solved Examples
Example 1: What Comes Before 7?
Question: What number comes just before 7?
Think:
- Look at the number line: ... 5 — 6 — 7
- The number just before 7 is 6
- 6 is one less than 7
Answer: 6 comes before 7.
Example 2: What Comes After 3?
Question: What number comes right after 3?
Think:
- Look at the number line: 3 — 4 — 5 ...
- The number right after 3 is 4
- 4 is one more than 3
Answer: 4 comes after 3.
Example 3: What is Between 2 and 4?
Question: What number is between 2 and 4?
Think:
- Number line: 2 — ? — 4
- After 2 comes 3, and before 4 is also 3
Answer: 3 is between 2 and 4.
Example 4: Before, After, and Between for 5
Question: Write the number before 5, after 5, and between 4 and 6.
Think:
- Before 5 → one less → 4
- After 5 → one more → 6
- Between 4 and 6 → 5
Answer: Before 5 = 4, After 5 = 6, Between 4 and 6 = 5.
Example 5: Fill the Gap
Question: 6, ___, 8. What number goes in the blank?
Think:
- After 6 comes 7
- Before 8 is 7
- So the missing number is 7
Answer: The missing number is 7.
Example 6: Ria's Stickers
Question: Ria has sticker number 5 on her chart. What sticker numbers are just before and just after?
Think:
- Before 5 → 4
- After 5 → 6
Answer: The stickers just before and after are 4 and 6.
Example 7: What is Between 7 and 9?
Question: What number is between 7 and 9?
Think:
- Number line: 7 — ? — 9
- After 7 comes 8
Answer: 8 is between 7 and 9.
Key Points to Remember
- The number before is always one less. Subtract 1 to find it.
- The number after is always one more. Add 1 to find it.
- The number between two consecutive numbers is the one that fills the gap.
- A number line is the best tool to find before, after, and between numbers.
- Nothing comes before 1 in counting numbers (except 0).
Practice Problems
- What number comes just before 9?
- What number comes right after 4?
- What number is between 1 and 3?
- Fill in: ___, 6, 7. What number is missing?
- Aman is standing in line. He is number 5. Who is just before him and just after him?
- Write the number before, after, and between for 8.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What does 'before a number' mean?
The number before is the one that comes just before it when you count in order. It is one less. For example, 4 comes before 5.
Q2. What does 'after a number' mean?
The number after is the next number when counting forward. It is one more. For example, 6 comes after 5.
Q3. What does 'between two numbers' mean?
The number between sits in the middle of two numbers. For example, 5 is between 4 and 6.
Q4. What comes before 1?
0 (zero) comes before 1. Zero means nothing or no objects.
Q5. How can a number line help?
A number line shows all numbers in order on a straight line. You can look left for before, right for after, and in the middle for between.
Q6. What number is between 5 and 7?
6 is between 5 and 7. On the number line: 5 — 6 — 7.
