Comparing Large Numbers (Grade 4)

Q: Why do we compare from the leftmost digit?

The leftmost digit has the highest place value. A difference of 1 in the thousands place (1,000) is much larger than a difference of 9 in the ones place (9). So the leftmost difference matters most.

Q: What if two numbers have the same digits in different order?

They are different numbers. Compare from the left. For example, 5,432 and 5,342 have the same digits, but 5,432 > 5,342 because at the hundreds place, 4 > 3.

Q: What is the trick to remember > and <?

The open (wider) side of the symbol faces the bigger number. Think of it as a hungry crocodile that always eats the bigger number: 5,000 > 3,000 (the wide mouth faces 5,000).

Class 4Large Numbers (Grade 4)

Comparing large numbers means finding which number is greater, smaller, or if they are equal. In Class 4, you compare 4-digit and 5-digit numbers using the symbols > (greater than), < (less than), and = (equal to).

Comparing numbers correctly is essential for ordering, sorting data, and solving word problems involving quantities, prices, and distances.

What is Comparing Large Numbers - Class 4 Maths (Large Numbers)?

Comparison symbols:

Symbol	Meaning	Example
>	Greater than	5,432 > 4,987
<	Less than	3,218 < 3,812
=	Equal to	7,500 = 7,500

Rules for comparing numbers:

Rule 1: A number with more digits is always greater. A 5-digit number is always greater than a 4-digit number.
Rule 2: If both numbers have the same number of digits, compare digit by digit from the leftmost place.
Rule 3: The number with a larger digit at the first differing place is the greater number.

Types and Properties

Step-by-step method to compare:

Step 1: Count the digits. More digits = greater number.

Step 2: If digits are equal, compare from the leftmost place (highest place value).

Step 3: Find the first place where the digits differ. The number with the larger digit at that place is greater.

Example: Compare 4,573 and 4,539

Place	Th	H	T	O
Number 1	4	5	7	3
Number 2	4	5	3	9

Thousands: 4 = 4 (same)
Hundreds: 5 = 5 (same)
Tens: 7 > 3 (first difference!)

So, 4,573 > 4,539.

Solved Examples

Example 1: Example 1: Different number of digits

Problem: Compare 9,875 and 12,340.

Solution:

Step 1: 9,875 has 4 digits; 12,340 has 5 digits.

Step 2: A 5-digit number is always greater than a 4-digit number.

Answer: 9,875 < 12,340

Example 2: Example 2: Same digits, different arrangement

Problem: Compare 6,835 and 6,853.

Solution:

Step 1: Both are 4-digit numbers.

Step 2: Thousands: 6 = 6. Hundreds: 8 = 8.

Step 3: Tens: 3 < 5.

Answer: 6,835 < 6,853

Example 3: Example 3: Comparing 5-digit numbers

Problem: Compare 54,321 and 54,312.

Solution:

Step 1: Both are 5-digit numbers.

Step 2: TTh: 5 = 5. Th: 4 = 4. H: 3 = 3.

Step 3: Tens: 2 > 1.

Answer: 54,321 > 54,312

Example 4: Example 4: Numbers with zeros

Problem: Compare 8,009 and 8,090.

Solution:

Step 1: Both are 4-digit numbers. Thousands: 8 = 8.

Step 2: Hundreds: 0 < 0 — wait, both are 0.

Step 3: Tens: 0 < 9.

Answer: 8,009 < 8,090

Example 5: Example 5: Fill in the symbol

Problem: Fill in >, <, or =: 35,678 ___ 35,687.

Solution:

Step 1: TTh: 3 = 3. Th: 5 = 5. H: 6 = 6.

Step 2: Tens: 7 < 8.

Answer: 35,678 < 35,687

Example 6: Example 6: Word problem - savings

Problem: Ria saved ₹4,560 and Meera saved ₹4,650. Who saved more?

Solution:

Step 1: Both are 4-digit numbers. Th: 4 = 4.

Step 2: Hundreds: 5 < 6.

Answer: Meera saved more. ₹4,560 < ₹4,650.

Example 7: Example 7: Word problem - distances

Problem: Distance from Delhi to Mumbai is 1,412 km. Distance from Delhi to Kolkata is 1,472 km. Which city is farther from Delhi?

Solution:

Step 1: Th: 1 = 1. H: 4 = 4.

Step 2: Tens: 1 < 7.

Answer: Kolkata is farther. 1,412 < 1,472.

Example 8: Example 8: Comparing three numbers

Problem: Which is the greatest: 7,894; 7,984; or 7,849?

Solution:

Step 1: All have Th = 7.

Step 2: Hundreds: 8, 9, 8. Since 9 > 8, 7,984 is the greatest.

Answer: 7,984 is the greatest.

Example 9: Example 9: Greatest and smallest from digits

Problem: Using digits 4, 7, 2, 5, form the greatest and smallest 4-digit numbers. Then compare them.

Solution:

Greatest: Arrange descending: 7, 5, 4, 2 = 7,542

Smallest: Arrange ascending: 2, 4, 5, 7 = 2,457

Answer: 7,542 > 2,457. The greatest is 7,542 and the smallest is 2,457.

Example 10: Example 10: Word problem - cricket scores

Problem: In a cricket series, Team A scored 12,456 runs and Team B scored 12,465 runs. Which team scored more?

Solution:

Step 1: Both 5-digit. TTh: 1 = 1. Th: 2 = 2. H: 4 = 4.

Step 2: Tens: 5 < 6.

Answer: Team B scored more. 12,456 < 12,465.

Key Points to Remember

A number with more digits is always greater than a number with fewer digits.
If two numbers have the same number of digits, compare from the leftmost place (highest place value).
The first place where digits differ decides which number is greater.
Symbols: > (greater than), < (less than), = (equal to).
Any 5-digit number > any 4-digit number (e.g., 10,000 > 9,999).
When comparing, do not look at the ones digit first — always start from the left.

Practice Problems

Compare: 5,643 ___ 5,634. Fill in >, <, or =.
Compare: 9,999 ___ 10,001.
Which is greater: 23,456 or 23,465?
Arrange from smallest to greatest: 8,205; 8,520; 8,052.
Arjun's school has 3,875 students. Dev's school has 3,857 students. Whose school is larger?
Find the greatest and smallest numbers from: 67,890; 67,098; 67,908.
Is the statement true or false: 4,999 > 5,001? Explain.
Compare using symbols: 50,000 ___ 49,999.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How do you compare two large numbers?

First check which has more digits — the one with more digits is greater. If both have the same number of digits, compare digit by digit from the left. The first different digit decides the comparison.

Q2. Is a 5-digit number always greater than a 4-digit number?

Yes. The smallest 5-digit number (10,000) is greater than the largest 4-digit number (9,999). So every 5-digit number is greater than every 4-digit number.

Q3. What do the symbols >, <, and = mean?

> means 'greater than' (the left number is bigger). < means 'less than' (the left number is smaller). = means both numbers are equal.

Q4. Why do we compare from the leftmost digit?

The leftmost digit has the highest place value. A difference of 1 in the thousands place (1,000) is much larger than a difference of 9 in the ones place (9). So the leftmost difference matters most.

Q5. What if two numbers have the same digits in different order?

They are different numbers. Compare from the left. For example, 5,432 and 5,342 have the same digits, but 5,432 > 5,342 because at the hundreds place, 4 > 3.

Q6. How do you compare numbers with zeros?

Treat 0 like any other digit. In 3,024 vs 3,204, at the hundreds place 0 < 2, so 3,024 < 3,204. Zeros do not change the comparison rule.

Q7. What is the trick to remember > and <?

The open (wider) side of the symbol faces the bigger number. Think of it as a hungry crocodile that always eats the bigger number: 5,000 > 3,000 (the wide mouth faces 5,000).

Q8. Is comparing large numbers in the NCERT Class 4 syllabus?

Yes. NCERT Class 4 Maths covers comparing and ordering 4-digit and 5-digit numbers in the chapter on large numbers.

Comparing Large Numbers (Grade 4)

What is Comparing Large Numbers - Class 4 Maths (Large Numbers)?

Types and Properties

Solved Examples

Example 1: Example 1: Different number of digits

Example 2: Example 2: Same digits, different arrangement

Example 3: Example 3: Comparing 5-digit numbers

Example 4: Example 4: Numbers with zeros

Example 5: Example 5: Fill in the symbol

Example 6: Example 6: Word problem - savings

Example 7: Example 7: Word problem - distances

Example 8: Example 8: Comparing three numbers

Example 9: Example 9: Greatest and smallest from digits

Example 10: Example 10: Word problem - cricket scores

Key Points to Remember

Practice Problems

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How do you compare two large numbers?

Q2. Is a 5-digit number always greater than a 4-digit number?

Q3. What do the symbols >, <, and = mean?

Q4. Why do we compare from the leftmost digit?

Q5. What if two numbers have the same digits in different order?

Q6. How do you compare numbers with zeros?

Q7. What is the trick to remember > and <?

Q8. Is comparing large numbers in the NCERT Class 4 syllabus?

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