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Comparing numbers with four digits

Part of MathsPlace valueYear 4

Compare numbers to 10,000

Chloe looking thoughtfully at a whiteboard with 7642 written at the top. Below are <, > and =.

Four-digit numbers can be partitioned into ones, tens, hundreds and thousands.

Understanding the value of each digit makes it easier to compare numbers using the less than (<), greater than (>) and equals symbols (=).

Once numbers have been compared, they can be ordered from the largest to the smallest, or from the smallest to the largest.

Chloe looking thoughtfully at a whiteboard with 7642 written at the top. Below are <, > and =.
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Activity: Comparing four-digit numbers

Complete this interactive activity to better understand how to compare four-digit numbers. Then put your knowledge to the test.

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Place value when comparing

Understanding place value within a four-digit number makes it easier to compare numbers.

Take a look at these two numbers made with arrow cards.

2 arrow cards in a row. First arrow cards - 6794. Second arrow card - 8461

By using arrow cards, a number can be partitioned into ones, tens, hundreds and thousands.

Arrow cards expanded from ones, tens, hundreds and thousands. Starting with thousands on the top row are 2 arrows 6000 and 8000. second row are hundreds 700 and 400. Third row, tens are 90 and 60 and ones 4 and 1.

This makes it easier to see similarities and differences between the digits of each number.

When comparing numbers always look at the digit with the greatest place value first.

You can see that 6794 has more thousands than 8461.

Therefore you can write:

6794 < 8461
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Example 1

Counting frame with ones, tens, hundreds and thousands columns. in the ones there are 5 beads, in the tens there are 3 beads, hundreds there are 6 beads and thousands has 5 beads. Next to a ? and an arrow card 5535.

Compare these numbers using the symbols >, < or =

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Example 2

2335 ? 2435

Compare these numbers using the symbols >, < or =

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Example 3

3 sets of digits in a row - 3467, 3476 and 3667.

Which number is the largest?

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Use your times tables and more maths skills to defeat monsters and reclaim the Kingdom of Mathematica

Play our fun maths game Guardians: Defenders of Mathematica
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More on Place value

Find out more by working through a topic