Comparing numbers with two digits

Comparing numbers

To compare numbers, you need to look to see if a number is 'greater than' or 'less than' another number.

You can use symbols to help you compare numbers:

Small numbers are easy to count, but when numbers get bigger, you need other ways to compare them.

It can be helpful to use a number line or put them into groups of ten and ones.

Activity: Comparing numbers to 100

Complete this interactive activity to better understand numbers to 100. Then put your knowledge to the test.

Using symbols

When comparing numbers, you can use words such as 'greater than' and 'less than'.

However, it is sometimes easier to use a symbol than writing words.

80 is bigger number than 50, so you can use the 'greater than' symbol (>).

You could look at this a different way. 50 is a smaller number than 80.

So you could also say:

If you swap the numbers around, the 'less than' symbol (<) is used.