☰ Year plan · Mathematics

Expanded form and comparing

Week 6 · Expanded form and comparing · 3 lessons
3

Greater, less or equal

Discover Mathematics P2: Term 1, Lessons 21–30
GoalCompare three-digit numbers and use the signs >, < and =.
New words
greater than (>) · bigger in valueless than (<) · smaller in valueequal to (=) · the same value
Explanation

To compare two numbers, start at the hundreds. The number with more hundreds is greater. If the hundreds are the same, compare the tens. If those are the same too, compare the ones. 345 and 328 have the same hundreds, but 4 tens is more than 2 tens, so 345 > 328. The open side of the sign > or < faces the greater number. If the numbers are the same we write =.

NumberHundredsTensOnes
First345
Second328
Worked examples
NumberHundredsTensOnes
First345
Second328
345 and 328: the hundreds are the same (3). The tens: 4 is more than 2. So 345 > 328.
NumberHundredsTensOnes
First507
Second570
507 and 570: the hundreds are the same. The tens: 0 is less than 7. So 507 < 570.
301 and 289: 3 hundreds are more than 2 hundreds, so 301 > 289, even though 289 has bigger tens and ones.
Class activity

Number battle. Each player turns over three digit cards and makes the biggest number possible. Compare the two numbers and say which is greater. The player with the greater number scores one point.

Practice
1
Compare 436 and 463. Write >, < or =.
2
Compare 612 and 612.
3
Compare 799 and 801.
4
Compare 250 and 205.
5
Name a number greater than 450 and less than 460.