What Does It Mean to Compare Numbers?
When we compare numbers, we decide which number is bigger, which is smaller, or if they are the same. We usually see numbers written as digits like 25 or 87, but we can also write them as words like “twenty-five” or “eighty-seven.” Learning to compare numbers using their word names helps us understand numbers better!
Understanding Number Names
First, let’s remember how we write numbers as words:
Numbers 0-10: zero, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten
Numbers 11-19: eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen
Tens: twenty (20), thirty (30), forty (40), fifty (50), sixty (60), seventy (70), eighty (80), ninety (90)
For numbers like 25: We combine them – twenty-five (20 + 5)
How to Compare Numbers Using Their Names
When we see number names written as words, we can follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Think About What the Number Name Means
When you see a word like “forty-two,” think: What number is this? (It’s 42)
Step 2: Compare by Looking at Place Value
Just like with regular numbers, we compare the bigger place first:
- Tens place comes first (how many tens?)
- Ones place comes second (how many ones?)
Step 3: Use Comparison Words
- Greater than means bigger (>)
- Less than means smaller (<)
- Equal to means the same (=)
Examples with Explanations
Example 1: Comparing Different Tens
Compare: thirty-four and fifty-two
Let’s think:
- Thirty-four = 34 (3 tens and 4 ones)
- Fifty-two = 52 (5 tens and 2 ones)
Look at the tens place first: 3 tens vs. 5 tens Since 5 tens is more than 3 tens, fifty-two is greater than thirty-four.
Answer: Thirty-four < Fifty-two (or Fifty-two > Thirty-four)
Example 2: Same Tens, Different Ones
Compare: sixty-seven and sixty-three
Let’s think:
- Sixty-seven = 67 (6 tens and 7 ones)
- Sixty-three = 63 (6 tens and 3 ones)
The tens are the same (both have 6 tens), so we look at the ones place: 7 ones vs. 3 ones Since 7 is more than 3, sixty-seven is greater than sixty-three.
Answer: Sixty-seven > Sixty-three
Example 3: Comparing with Smaller Numbers
Compare: fifteen and forty
Let’s think:
- Fifteen = 15 (1 ten and 5 ones)
- Forty = 40 (4 tens and 0 ones)
Look at the tens: 1 ten vs. 4 tens Forty has more tens, so forty is greater than fifteen.
Answer: Fifteen < Forty
Example 4: Numbers That Are Equal
Compare: eighty-nine and eighty-nine
Let’s think:
- Both are 89 (8 tens and 9 ones)
- They have the same tens AND the same ones
Answer: Eighty-nine = Eighty-nine
Example 5: Comparing with Zero
Compare: zero and twenty-one
Let’s think:
- Zero = 0 (no tens, no ones)
- Twenty-one = 21 (2 tens and 1 one)
Any number is greater than zero (except zero itself!).
Answer: Zero < Twenty-one
Helpful Tips for Students
Tip 1: Listen for the “Tens” Word Words like twenty, thirty, forty tell you how many tens. The bigger the tens word, usually the bigger the number!
Tip 2: Write It Down If you’re confused, write the number in digit form: thirty-six → 36
Tip 3: Use a Number Line Imagine all numbers in a line from 0 to 100. Numbers to the right are always bigger!
Tip 4: Remember Special Numbers
- Numbers in the teens (thirteen, fourteen, etc.) are between 10 and 20
- Fifty is exactly in the middle of 0 and 100
- Ninety-nine is almost 100!
Practice Problems for Students
Try these on your own:
- Compare: twenty-eight and nineteen
- Compare: forty-five and forty-nine
- Compare: seventy and seventeen
- Compare: fifty-five and fifty-five
- Compare: eight and eighty
Review
Remember these key points:
- Number names are just another way to write numbers
- Always compare the tens place first
- If the tens are the same, then compare the ones place
- Practice reading and writing number names to get better at comparing them!
With practice, comparing numbers using their word names will become as easy as comparing regular numbers!
Bigger/smaller number with number names
In this worksheet, the child has to mark which number is bigger or smaller with the help of the sign > or <.
This sheet can be best done, once the child has learnt the number names from 0-100, since the sheet requires the child to be able to read and comprehend the number name and not the number.
No. of sheets- 2
