4-7 Comparing Numbers

When you compare numbers, you begin by comparing the numbers in the largest place value.  For example:

Compare 2,096 and 12,453
Begin with the place value furthest to the left.

In the number 2,096 the digit 2 is in the thousands place value.

In the number 12,453 the digit 1 is in the ten thousands place value.

The ten thousands place value is larger than the thousands place value.
Ten thousands is greater than two thousands.

We use the following signs to compare numbers:

< means less than, > means greater than, and = means equal to.

In the example above then 2,096 < 12,453.

Here are some more examples.

Compare the following numbers and place the correct sign in the box.

450 300	2700 3000
11,900 10,000	2900 3100
23,907 27,798	129,567 345,976
382 382	2,001 2,003
97,999 100,000	449 500
4,319 3,319	978,978 789,789
2,407 2,408	19,792 19,692
8,972,001 8,962,002	16 16
129,876 128,876	4,500,019 4,501,020
213 214	753 752
1,200,003 1,200,002	100 100
8,973 8,937	789,965 788,965