Table of Contents

School Home

 

 Comparing Numbers

Comparing Numbers

Numbers and numerical expressions can be compared in three ways:

  • One number can be larger than another number.
  • One number can be smaller than another number.
  • One number can be equal to another number.

In mathematics we use special symbols to show how numbers and other numerical expressions are compared.

> This symbol indicates t the number or expression on the left side is greater than the number or expression on the right side.

4 789 > 1 327
30 460 > 2 583
35 + 26 > 59
45 360 > 40 000 + 5 000 + 300

 

< This symbol indicates the number or expression on the left side is less than the number or expresson on the right side.

6 354 < 7 354
45 207 < 45 208
360 + 46 < 430 - 30

 

= This symbol indicates the number or expression on the left side is equal to the number or expression on the right side.

5 493 241 = 5 million 493 thousand 241
5 000 + 356 = 5 356
73 + 21 + 39 = 33 + 250 - 150


Math Fact 1 Math Fact 2
When we use the > and < symbols to show a mathematical expression, we know that they are not equal. The name for a statement like this is an inequality. When we use the = symbol to compare the left and right side, we say that the expression is an equivalent equation.

Practice Comparing Numbers

Comparing Numbers: Use the section called Comparing Numbers. Make sure you try the sections with higher numbers (millions). There are lots of other exercises for making comparisions that will be helpful to learn, so check some of them out.

Click here for the movie

other movie