Comparing Numbers
Kindergarten · Math · Study Guide
Comparing numbers means figuring out which number is bigger, which is smaller, or if they are the same!
When you compare two numbers, you look at both of them and decide which one is more, which is less, or if they are equal (the same). Comparing numbers helps us make decisions every day — like figuring out who has more grapes at snack time!
We use special words to compare numbers. 'Greater than' means one number is bigger. 'Less than' means one number is smaller. 'Equal to' means both numbers are exactly the same amount.
Math uses special symbols to show comparisons. The symbol > means 'greater than' and the symbol < means 'less than.' A fun trick for remembering: the open mouth of the symbol always faces the bigger number — it wants to eat the bigger number! And the symbol = means equal to.
The number line is a great tool for comparing numbers. Numbers on the right side are always bigger than numbers on the left. So 8 is greater than 3 because 8 is further to the right on the number line.
You can also compare by counting. If you count a group of red apples and get 4, and you count a group of green apples and get 7, you know 7 is greater than 4 because you counted more green apples. The more you count, the more you practice comparing too!
| Symbol | Meaning | Example | How to Read It |
|---|---|---|---|
| > | greater than | 7 > 4 | Seven is greater than four |
| < | less than | 3 < 9 | Three is less than nine |
| = | equal to | 5 = 5 | Five is equal to five |
| Comparison | True or False? |
|---|---|
| 6 > 2 | True — 6 is greater than 2 |
| 4 < 1 | False — 4 is more than 1 |
| 8 = 8 | True — both sides are 8 |
| 10 > 9 | True — 10 is one more than 9 |
| 5 < 3 | False — 5 is more than 3 |
Key terms
- compare
- To look at two numbers and decide which is bigger, smaller, or if they are the same
- greater than
- A number is larger in value — we write this as >
- less than
- A number is smaller in value — we write this as <
- equal to
- Both numbers are exactly the same — we write this as =
- number line
- A line with numbers in order that helps us see which numbers are bigger or smaller
Practice questions
Which symbol goes between 8 and 5 to make this true? 8 ___ 5
- <
- =
- >
- +
Show answer
Answer: >
The number 3 is greater than the number 7.
Show answer
Answer: False
6 is ___ than 4. (greater or less)
Show answer
Answer: greater
Which number is less than 6?
- 9
- 8
- 7
- 4
Show answer
Answer: 4
When two groups have the same number of objects, they are equal.
Show answer
Answer: True
Fun facts
- Ancient Egyptians had symbols for numbers but didn't have the > and < symbols we use today. The < and > signs were invented by mathematician Thomas Harriot in the 1600s!
- The equal sign = was invented in 1557 by a Welsh mathematician named Robert Recorde. He said he used two equal-length lines because no two things can be more equal.
- Our brains naturally compare numbers faster when they are far apart. It's easier to quickly see that 10 > 2 than to compare 8 and 9 — this is called the 'distance effect.'
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