Lesson 2.1 · Comparing Numbers
More, fewer and the same
Who has more cookies, you or your friend? To find out, you compare the two groups. Let's learn three words for comparing: more, fewer and the same.
Match them up
Put the two groups in rows, one under the other. Match each thing on top with one thing below.
- If a row has things left over with no partner, that row has more.
- The other row has fewer.
- If every thing has a partner, the groups are the same. They have the same number.
Definition
More, fewer, the same
More means a bigger number of things. Fewer means a smaller number of things. The same means both groups have the same number of things.
Worked example: Dogs and bones
Are there more dogs or more bones?
🐶 🐶 🐶 🐶
🦴 🦴 🦴
Match each bone with a dog. One dog has no bone. So there are more dogs. There are fewer bones.
Worked example: Cupcakes and candles
Are there more cupcakes, more candles, or the same?
🧁 🧁 🧁 🧁 🧁
🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️
Match each cupcake with a candle. Nothing is left over. The groups are the same. Each group has 5.
Worked example: Count to compare
Which group has fewer?
🐞 🐞 🐞 🐞 🐞 🐞
🦋 🦋 🦋 🦋
Count the ladybugs: 6. Count the butterflies: 4. The butterflies run out first when you match. There are fewer butterflies.
Common mistake
Big things do not always mean more! Two 🐘 🐘 are big, and three 🐭 🐭 🐭 are small. But 3 mice are more than 2 elephants. Count the things, not how big they are.
Tip
Not sure? Count each group. The group with the bigger number has more.
Practice
Which is there more of?
🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎
🍌 🍌
Are there more hats, more mittens, or the same?
🎩 🎩 🎩
🧤 🧤 🧤
Which is there fewer of?
🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟 🐟
🐢 🐢 🐢
Which is there more of?
🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸 🌸
🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝 🐝
Which is there fewer of?
🦒 🦒 🦒 🦒
🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜
Mia has these balls: ⚽ ⚽ ⚽ ⚽
Leo has these balls: ⚽ ⚽
How many more balls does Leo need to have the same as Mia?
Type a number.