GoalCompare and order numbers up to 90,020 by looking at the places from the left.
New words
digit · one of the symbols 0 to 9place value · the value of a digit because of its placeleast to greatest · from the smallest number to the biggest
Explanation
To compare numbers, first count the digits. A number with more digits is greater, so 90,020 > 9,020. If two numbers have the same number of digits, compare the digits from the left, starting with the greatest place. The first place where the digits differ decides. Compare 45,318 and 45,381: the ten thousands, thousands and hundreds are the same, and in the tens 1 < 8, so 45,318 < 45,381. To put numbers in order, compare them two at a time, or write them in a place value table. A zero is important: it holds a place. In 90,020 the zero in the thousands place keeps the 9 in the ten thousands place.
Ten thousands
Thousands
Hundreds
Tens
Ones
9
0
0
2
0
Worked examples
Compare 9,020 and 90,020. 9,020 has 4 digits and 90,020 has 5 digits, so 90,020 is greater: 90,020 > 9,020.
Number
Digits
9,020
4
20,090
5
90,020
5
90,200
5
Order 90,020, 9,020, 90,200 and 20,090 from least to greatest. 9,020 has only 4 digits, so it is the least. Then 20,090. 90,020 and 90,200 both begin 90, and in the hundreds 0 < 2. The order is 9,020, 20,090, 90,020, 90,200.
Number
Hundreds
Tens
45,318
3
1
45,381
3
8
Compare 45,318 and 45,381. Go from the left: 4 = 4, 5 = 5, 3 = 3, and then the tens are 1 and 8. Since 1 < 8, 45,318 < 45,381.
Class activity
Number cards. Write the digits 0 to 9 on ten small cards. Pick five cards and make the greatest five-digit number you can, then the least one that does not start with 0. Do it five times and write your numbers in order from least to greatest.
Practice
1
Which is greater, 7,805 or 78,050?
78,050 is greater, because it has 5 digits and 7,805 has 4 digits.
2
Order from least to greatest: 12,450; 12,045; 12,504; 11,990.
11,990 is the least, since its thousands digit is 1 and the others have 2. Then 12,045 (0 hundreds), 12,450 (4 hundreds), 12,504 (5 hundreds). The order is 11,990; 12,045; 12,450; 12,504.
3
Use the digits 3, 0, 9, 5 and 7 once each. Make the greatest number and the least number with 5 digits.
Greatest: 97,530. Least: 30,579, because the number cannot start with 0.
4
Write the number in the place value table. What is the value of the 7?
Ten thousands
Thousands
Hundreds
Tens
Ones
7
0
4
0
8
The number is 70,408. The 7 is in the ten thousands place, so its value is 70,000.
5
Which number is between 45,000 and 46,000: 44,999, 45,999 or 46,100?
45,999 is between them. 44,999 is less than 45,000, and 46,100 is greater than 46,000.
