Count, Compare & Order Lab

Pick two numbers from 0 to 20 and decide which is bigger. Record your pairs in a table. Then shuffle a set of numbers and line them up from smallest to largest to find the patterns.

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Guided Experiment: Comparing and Ordering Numbers Investigation

Do you think it is always easier to compare small numbers than big numbers? Write your prediction. Think about which pairs feel harder and why.

Write your hypothesis in the Lab Report panel, then click Next.

Pick Two Numbers

Number A
3
Number B
8
The bigger number is the one further to the right on the number line.
A=3
B=8
05101520

Compare

3
<
8
8 is larger than 3. They are 5 apart.
What this tells us
  • Symbol. <
  • Larger number. 8
  • Smaller number. 3
  • Difference. 5

Controls

0 / 500
0 / 500
0 / 500

Reference Guide

Greater, Less, and Equal

Three symbols help us compare two numbers. The symbol opens toward the larger number, like a hungry mouth eating the bigger one.

3 < 8 means 3 is less than 8
8 > 3 means 8 is greater than 3
5 = 5 means the numbers are equal

When two numbers are equal, both symbols point at each other and we use the equals sign instead.

Using a Number Line

A number line is a great way to compare numbers. Small numbers live on the left. Big numbers live on the right.

Tip. Whichever number is farther to the right is the larger one. The farther apart they are, the bigger the difference.

The difference between two numbers tells us how many steps apart they are on the number line.

Ordering Numbers

When we put numbers in order from smallest to largest, every next number is bigger than the one before it.

2 < 6 < 9 < 11 < 17

To sort a set, find the smallest number first, then the next smallest, and keep going until you reach the largest.

Why Comparing Helps

Comparing numbers shows up everywhere. Who scored more points, which stack of blocks is taller, which pile of coins is worth more.

Quick trick. If the tens digits are different, the number with the larger tens digit wins. Only compare the ones digits when the tens digits are the same.

Ordering numbers is the first step toward reading charts, reading rulers, and lining up data in a table.