1
Smallest to biggest
Discover Mathematics P2: Term 1, Lessons 21–30
GoalPut numbers in order from least to greatest and from greatest to least.
New words
order · to put numbers one after another by sizeleast · the smallest numbergreatest · the biggest number
Explanation
To order numbers, first find the least one and then the next least, and so on. A number with fewer digits is smaller, and with the same number of digits we compare the hundreds, then the tens, then the ones. Least to greatest means smallest first. Greatest to least means biggest first. On a number line, numbers to the right are greater.
Worked examples
Order 14, 6, 2, 9, 11 from least to greatest: 2, 6, 9, 11, 14.
Order 105, 23, 9, 48, 31 from least to greatest. 9 has one digit, 23, 31 and 48 have two, and 105 has three: 9, 23, 31, 48, 105.
Order 36, 7, 52, 310, 45 from greatest to least: 310, 52, 45, 36, 7.
Class activity
Line up family members by height, from the shortest to the tallest. Then write the ages of five relatives and order the numbers from least to greatest and then from greatest to least.
Practice
1
Order from least to greatest: 5, 19, 12, 3.
3, 5, 12, 19
2
Order from least to greatest: 205, 52, 250, 25.
25, 52, 205, 250
3
Order from greatest to least: 99, 101, 90, 110.
110, 101, 99, 90
4
Which is the least: 143, 134 or 314?
134
5
Use the digits 4, 0 and 9 once each. What is the greatest number you can make?
940