Numbers & the Number System • Topic 5 of 9

Comparison of Numbers

Comparing two numbers means deciding which is greater, smaller or whether they are equal, written with the signs >, < and =. The method is short and CTET expects it cleanly applied. First count the digits: a number with more digits is always larger, so 1000 (four digits) beats 999 (three digits) outright. When the digit counts match, compare from the leftmost (highest) place and move right until the first column where the digits differ; the number with the bigger digit there is greater. Comparing 550 and 505, the hundreds match (5 = 5), so move to the tens - 5 against 0 - and since 5 > 0, 550 > 505. The well-known childhood error is to declare 999 bigger than 1000 'because 9 is bigger than 1', focusing on a single eye-catching digit instead of the number of digits and place value. The teacher's job is to steer pupils to count digits first, then compare left to right - never to judge by the largest-looking single digit.

✅ Solved examples

1. Compare 999 and 1000 using the correct sign.
1000 > 999. A four-digit number is always greater than a three-digit number, so the count of digits settles it before any digit-by-digit comparison.
2. Compare 550 and 505.
550 > 505. Same number of digits; hundreds match (5 = 5), tens differ (5 > 0), so 550 is greater.
3. A child says 89 is greater than 123 'because 8 is bigger than 1'. Correct this.
123 > 89. 123 has three digits and 89 has two, so 123 is larger. The child compared leading digits instead of counting digits first.
4. Compare 4621 and 4628.
4628 > 4621. Thousands, hundreds and tens all match; the first difference is in the ones place, where 8 > 1.

✏️ Practice — try these, take hints as needed

1. Put the correct sign between 72 and 720.
Count the digits first.
Two digits versus three.
72 < 720
2. Which is greater, 318 or 381?
Same digit count.
Tens place differs.
381
3. Compare 6000 and 599.
Four digits beats three.
No need to compare digit by digit.
6000 > 599
4. Place the sign between 4505 and 4550.
First two columns match.
Compare the tens.
4505 < 4550

📝 Topic test — 8 questions

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