Bigger, Smaller, Same

12 min

Who has more bottle caps?

Ishimwe and Umutoni collect bottle caps after umuganda.

Ishimwe counts 58. Umutoni counts 61.

"Mine is more!" says Ishimwe. "No, mine!" says Umutoni. Who is right? Let us check properly.

Look at the tens first

Do not count all the caps again. Just look at the tens digit.

58 has 5 tens. 61 has 6 tens.

Six bundles beat five bundles. So 61 is more than 58. Umutoni is right!

Ishimwe thought he won because 8 is bigger than 1. But the ones do not decide. The tens decide first.

When the tens are the same

Now compare 74 and 71.

Both have 7 tens. That part is a tie.

So now, and only now, look at the ones. 4 ones is more than 1 one.

So 74 is more than 71.

Three little signs

> means is more than. We write 74 > 71.

< means is less than. We write 58 < 61.

= means is equal to. We write 40 + 5 = 45.

Look closely at > and <. Each one is a little open mouth. The mouth always opens wide towards the bigger number, and the sharp point pokes at the smaller one.

Worked example: putting numbers in order

Keza writes four numbers on her slate: 45, 54, 40, 9.

Step 1 The number 9 has no tens at all. It is only 9 ones. So it is the smallest.

Step 2 Check the tens of the rest. 40 and 45 both have 4 tens. 54 has 5 tens, so 54 is the biggest.

Step 3 40 and 45 are tied on tens, so compare their ones. 0 ones is less than 5 ones, so 40 comes before 45.

Smallest to biggest: 9, 40, 45, 54.

Tip

Tens first, ones second. Compare the bundles before you ever look at the loose ones.

And remember the hungry mouth: the sign always opens towards the bigger number. 61 > 58.

✦

Try it yourself

Say your answer out loud, then tap Show answer to check.

Which is more: 37 or 73?
Which is less: 89 or 90?
Is 50 the same as 5 tens and 0 ones? Yes or no?
Put these in order, smallest to biggest: 30, 13, 33, 3
Mutesi has 66 beans. Niyonzima has 60 beans. Finish the sentence: 66 is ___ 60.

Answers

73. It has 7 tens; 37 only has 3 tens.
89. 89 has 8 tens, and 90 has 9 tens. Nine bundles win.
Yes. 5 tens is 50, plus no loose ones, so it is 50.
3, 13, 30, 33. First 3 (no tens), then 13 (1 ten), then 30 and 33 (both 3 tens, so 30 comes first because 0 ones is less than 3 ones).
more than. Same tens, so look at the ones: 6 ones beats 0 ones. We write 66 > 60.

Quick check

Which is more: 46 or 64?

What you learned today

To compare two numbers, look at the tens digit first.
If the tens are the same, then the ones decide.
> means more than, < means less than, = means equal to. The mouth opens to the bigger number.

1Who has more bottle caps?

2Look at the tens first

3When the tens are the same

4Three little signs