Comparing Numbers up to 200 (Greater to, Less than)

Part 1: Understanding the Symbols

The Three Special Symbols

We use three special symbols to compare numbers:

1. Greater Than: >

This symbol means “is greater than” or “is more than”
The open side (big side) always faces the bigger number
Think of it as a hungry alligator that wants to eat the bigger number!

2. Less Than: <

This symbol means “is less than” or “is smaller than”
The open side faces the bigger number
The pointed side points to the smaller number

3. Equal To: =

This symbol means “is the same as” or “equals”
Both numbers are exactly the same

Part 2: The Alligator Trick 🐊

The best way to remember < and > is the Alligator Trick!

Imagine the symbol is an alligator’s mouth. The alligator is always hungry and wants to eat the BIGGER number!

Examples:

7 > 3 (The alligator eats 7 because 7 is bigger)
3 < 7 (The alligator faces 7 because 7 is bigger)
5 = 5 (Both numbers are the same, so no alligator!)

Part 3: Comparing Small Numbers (1-20)

Let’s start with numbers you know well!

Example 1: Which is greater?

8 ___ 5

Count: 8 is more than 5
The alligator wants to eat 8
Answer: 8 > 5 (8 is greater than 5)

Example 2: Which is less?

4 ___ 9

Count: 4 is less than 9
The pointed end points to 4
Answer: 4 < 9 (4 is less than 9)

Example 3: Are they equal?

6 ___ 6

Both sides have 6
They are the same!
Answer: 6 = 6 (6 equals 6)

Part 4: Comparing Numbers 21-100

When numbers get bigger, we look at the tens place first!

Example 4:

45 ___ 32

Step 1: Look at the tens place

45 has 4 tens (40)
32 has 3 tens (30)
4 tens is more than 3 tens

Answer: 45 > 32

Example 5:

58 ___ 85

Step 1: Look at the tens place

58 has 5 tens (50)
85 has 8 tens (80)
5 tens is less than 8 tens

Answer: 58 < 85

Example 6: What if the tens are the same?

67 ___ 63

Step 1: Look at the tens place

Both have 6 tens – they’re the same!

Step 2: Look at the ones place

67 has 7 ones
63 has 3 ones
7 is more than 3

Answer: 67 > 63

Part 5: Comparing Numbers 101-200

For numbers over 100, we follow the same steps!

Example 7:

145 ___ 132

Step 1: Look at the hundreds place

Both have 1 hundred – the same!

Step 2: Look at the tens place

145 has 4 tens (40)
132 has 3 tens (30)
4 tens is more than 3 tens

Answer: 145 > 132

Example 8:

176 ___ 179

Step 1: Hundreds place – both have 1 hundred (same)

Step 2: Tens place – both have 7 tens (same)

Step 3: Ones place

176 has 6 ones
179 has 9 ones
6 is less than 9

Answer: 176 < 179

Example 9:

200 ___ 199

Step 1: Hundreds place

200 has 2 hundreds
199 has 1 hundred
2 hundreds is more than 1 hundred

Answer: 200 > 199

Sequencing Numbers: Smallest to Biggest and Biggest to Smallest

Understanding Smallest to Biggest (Ascending Order):

When we arrange numbers from smallest to biggest, we start with the tiniest number and end with the largest. Think of it like lining up students by height – the shortest student stands first, and the tallest stands last! To do this correctly, we compare the numbers carefully. Let’s look at an example: arrange 87, 145, 78, 134 from smallest to biggest. First, look at how many digits each number has. The 2-digit numbers (87 and 78) will be smaller than the 3-digit numbers (145 and 134). Between 78 and 87, we compare the tens: 7 tens vs 8 tens, so 78 comes first. Between 134 and 145, we compare: both have 1 hundred, but 134 has 3 tens while 145 has 4 tens, so 134 is smaller. Our final answer is: 78, 87, 134, 145. Each number is bigger than the one before it!

Understanding Biggest to Smallest (Descending Order):

When we arrange numbers from biggest to smallest, we do the opposite – we start with the largest number and end with the smallest. It’s like going down stairs, each step takes us lower! Let’s use the same numbers: 87, 145, 78, 134. First, identify the biggest number by looking for the most digits or highest place values. Since 145 has 4 tens (in the middle position) and 134 has only 3 tens, 145 is our biggest number and goes first. Next is 134 (the other 3-digit number). Then we look at our 2-digit numbers: 87 has 8 tens and 78 has 7 tens, so 87 comes before 78. Our final answer is: 145, 134, 87, 78. Notice how each number gets smaller as we move along – we’re counting down, not up!

The Step-by-Step Strategy:

Here’s a fool proof method that works every time:
(1) Write all the numbers in a row where you can see them clearly,
(2) Compare them two at a time, starting from the leftmost digit (hundreds, then tens, then ones),
(3) For smallest to biggest, keep asking “Which is the smallest number I haven’t used yet?” and write it down, then repeat,
(4) For biggest to smallest, keep asking “Which is the biggest number I haven’t used yet?”
and write it down, then repeat.
Let’s try one more:
arrange 156, 165, 151, 160 from smallest to biggest.
All have 1 hundred (same), so look at tens: 151 has 5 tens (smallest), then 156 has 5 tens but more ones (6 vs 1), then 160 has 6 tens, and finally 165 has 6 tens but more ones.
Answer: 151, 156, 160, 165.
Practice this strategy, and soon you’ll be a sequencing expert!