Let’s Learn to Compare
Goal:
Goal:
What number is greater than or less than another?
When a team has a higher score, we can also say their score is greater than the other team’s score. The team with the lower score would have a score that is less than the other team.
On the scoreboard, the Racers have 3 points and the Jets have 2. Which number is greater?
3 is greater than 2.
We use symbols for these words! The symbol always opens towards the greater number, and it looks like this.
3
2
3 is greater than 2.
You can imagine the symbol is a hungry animal who wants to eat the greatest amount! 3 is greater than 2, so the symbol opens towards the 3. You can read this as "Three is greater than two."
You can also flip it around.
2
3
2 is less than 3.
The mouth of the "animal" is still open to the bigger number. 2 is less than 3, so the symbol opens towards the 3. You can read this as "Two is less than three."
Click through the slides below to learn more.
Compare each set of numbers. You can ask yourself whether the first number is greater than or less than the second number. Then, you can figure out which symbol you would use. Click the card check your answers.
2 ? 5
2 is smaller than 5, so the symbol would open towards the 5.
2 is less than 5.
2
5
7 ? 6
7 is more than 6, so the symbol would open toward the 7.
7 is greater than 6.
7
6
6 ? 9
6 is smaller than 9, so the symbol would open toward the 9.
6 is less than 9.
6
9
5 ? 3
5 is more than 3, so the symbol would open toward the 5.
5 is greater than 3.
5
3
6 ? 4
6 is bigger than 4, so the symbol would open toward the 6.
6 is greater than 4.
6
4
7 ? 9
7 is smaller than 9, so the symbol would open toward the 9.
7 is less than 9.
7
9