HOW TO COMPARE NUMBERS USING ‘GREATER THAN’ AND ‘LESS THAN’:

• Comparing numbers is what you do when you’re given two numbers and asked to figure out which one is bigger.
• When you compare two numbers you’ll use one of the following three symbols:
  • > means “greater than”
  • < means “less than”
  • = means “equal to”
• To make things simple, imagine that > and < are alligator mouths. The alligator always wants to eat the bigger number.
• EXAMPLE: Compare the following numbers using >, <, or =.

1. 1. 9 _ 12
   2. 10 _ 10
   3. 15 _ 5

• • SOLUTIONS:

1. 1. 1. 12 is bigger than 9, so the alligator wants to eat 12. Use the symbol that looks like an alligator mouth trying to eat 12.
         • 9 < 12
      2. 10 and 10 are the same number, so we use =, which means “equal to” or “the same as.”
         • 10 = 10
      3. 15 is bigger than 5, so the alligator wants to eat 15. Use the symbol that looks like an alligator mouth trying to eat 15.
         • 15 > 5

ARE THERE ANY TRICKS FOR REMEMBERING GREATER THAN AND LESS THAN SIGNS?

• When first learning about inequality symbols (< and >) it’s not hugely important to remember what they’re called. It’s most important to understand what they mean (i.e. that the open side always points to what’s bigger).
• However, if you want/need to know how to read the symbols, here’s a trick:
  • Remember that in math, just like in English, we read from left to right.
    • To read 9 < 12:
      • Start from the left and move right. Say “9 is” and pause.
      • Is 9 greater than or less than 12? 9 is less than 12, so we read 9 < 12 as “9 is less than 12.”
      • That means that < is the sign for “less than.”
    • To read 15 > 5:
      • Start from the left and move right. Say “15 is” and pause.
      • Is 15 greater than or less than 5? 15 is greater than 5, so we read 15 > 5 as “15 is greater than 5.”
      • That means that > is the sign for “greater than.”

HOW TO ORDER NUMBERS:

• Ordering numbers is kind of like putting words in alphabetical order.
  • If you need to put numbers in order from least to greatest, that’s like putting words in alphabetical order – starting from ‘a’ and going to ‘z.’
  • If you need to put numbers in order from greatest to least, that’s like putting words in reverse alphabetical order – starting from ‘z’ and working toward ‘a.’
• To properly order numbers you have to understand their value (what they’re worth).
  • The number 5 means ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • The number 4 means ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • The number 8 means ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • To order those three numbers from least to greatest, you begin with the smallest number (4), end with the biggest (8), and put the other one (5) in between. Written in order from least to greatest we have 4, 5, 8.
  • To order those numbers from greatest to least, just write the list above backward: 8, 5, 4.

COMMON MISTAKES WHEN ORDERING NUMBERS:

• • Given the following set of numbers (7, 10, 15, 1) it’s common for students to order them as 1, 10, 15, 7. Since 1 is smaller than 7, students who make this mistake assume that any number that begins with a 1 should come before any number that begins with a 7.
    • If your student is making this mistake, use objects to show them what each number represents.
      • 7 means 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸
      • 10 means 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸
      • 15 means 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸
      • 1 means 🐸
    • When students can see what numbers represent it’s much easier for them to pick out the smallest group (1). Once the smallest group is removed, ask them what is the new smallest group (7). Move that off to the side and again ask what is the smaller group (10). They’ll be left with the largest group (15) and they will have successfully ordered the numbers.