LESSON 4 Comparing and Ordering

Numbers

In 2010, a bag factory exported 16 212 native bags. The following year, it exported 19 105 bags.
During which year was there more exports?

LET US DISCOVER
To answer the question, you need to compare the number of exports during those two years.
Using a place value chart, compare the digits starting from the largest place.

Since the digits in the ten thousands place are the same, compare the next digits.
The digits in the thousands place are different.
Since 9 is greater than 6, then 19 105 is greater than 16 212 and 16 212 is less than 19 105.

You write these in symbols as shown below.

19 105 > 16 212
 16 212 < 19 105
Complete answer: There were more exports in 2011.

Here is another example.

Compare 643 819 and 634 820.

The digits in the hundred thousands place are the same. The digits in the ten thousands place are
different. Since 4 is greater than 3, 643 819 is greater than 634 820.
643 819 > 634 820
How do you compare the numbers 875 362 and 875 362? What symbol will you use to compare
them?
Look at these numbers.
237 482 241 675 378 469 392 506
Do you see that they are arranged from least to greatest or in increasing order?
If you read from the right going to the left, then you read the numbers from greatest to least or in
decreasing order.

LET US SUMMARIZE

To compare numbers, compare the digits in the greatest place value. If they are the same, compare
the digits in the next place value until you come to a place value where the digits are different.
The symbols >, <, and = are used to compare numbers.
Numbers can be arranged from least to greatest (increasing order) or from greatest to least
(decreasing order).

LET US PRACTICE
GET READY

A. Write >, <, or = in the blank to compare each pair of numbers.

1. 35 236 _______ 35 216

2. 224 675 _______ 224 875
3. 134 817 _______ 143 817
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