Math Core

Which is more, 52 stickers or 25 stickers? Tens and ones make it easy to tell. In this lesson you will compare two-digit numbers and use the symbols $>$ , $<$ and $=$ .

Look at the tens first

Tens are worth much more than ones. So check the tens first.

52 has 5 tens. 25 has 2 tens. 5 tens is more than 2 tens, so 52 is greater.

If the tens are the same, look at the ones. 47 and 43 both have 4 tens. 7 ones is more than 3 ones, so 47 is greater.

How to compare

Compare the tens. More tens means a greater number.
If the tens are the same, compare the ones.
If the tens and the ones are both the same, the numbers are equal.

Three symbols

symbol	say it	example
$>$	is greater than	$52 > 25$
$<$	is less than	$25 < 52$
$=$	is equal to	$40 = 40$

The open side of $>$ or $<$ faces the bigger number. The point faces the smaller number.

Worked example: Different tens

Compare 61 and 39.

61 has 6 tens. 39 has 3 tens. 6 tens is more, so $61 > 39$ .

Worked example: Same tens

Compare 84 and 88.

Both have 8 tens. Now check the ones: 4 is less than 8. So $84 < 88$ .

Worked example: Past 100

Compare 110 and 99.

110 is 11 tens. 99 is only 9 tens and 9 ones. So $110 > 99$ .

Common mistake

Don't just look at the biggest digit! 29 has a 9, but 31 is greater. 31 has 3 tens and 29 has only 2 tens. So $31 > 29$ .

Practice

Practice 1

Which number is greater, 37 or 73?

Type a number.

Practice 2

Which number is less, 58 or 54?

Type a number.

Practice 3

Which symbol goes in the box? $\;46 \;\square\; 19$

Practice 4

Which symbol goes in the box? $\;62 \;\square\; 67$

Practice 5

Which symbol goes in the box? $\;\text{5 tens and 0 ones} \;\square\; 50$

Practice 6

Sam has 41 marbles. Ana has 28 marbles. How many marbles does the person with more marbles have?

Type a number.

Practice 7

Which is true?

Practice 8

Put these numbers in order from least to greatest: 98, 89, 91. Which number comes first?

Type a number.