Which number is greatest/least?

Learning Objectives Compare two numbers up to 1,000 using the symbols >, <, and =. Identify the greatest number in a set of three or more numbers. Identify the least number in a set of three or more numbers. Order a set of numbers from least to greatest. Order a set of numbers from greatest to least. Explain the strategy of comparing numbers using place value. Solve simple word problems that involve finding the greatest or least number. Imagine you have two treasure chests, one with 345 gold coins and one with 354 gold coins. Which one would you choose? 🪙 Today, we are going to become number detectives! We will learn a special method to compare any numbers and figure out which one is the biggest (greatest) or the smallest (least). This is a very important skill for...

TermDefinitionExample Place ValueThe value of a digit based on its position in a number (ones, tens, hundreds).In the number 582, the digit 5 is in the hundreds place and means 500. DigitAny of the numerals from 0 to 9 that make up numbers.The number 739 has three digits: 7, 3, and 9. GreatestThe number with the highest value in a group.In the set {250, 199, 300}, the greatest number is 300. LeastThe number with the lowest value in a group.In the set {250, 199, 300}, the least number is 199. CompareTo look at two or more numbers to see which is greater, less, or if they are equal.When we compare 45 and 54, we see that 45 is less than 54. Greater Than Symbol (>)A symbol used to show that the first number is bigger than the second number.25 > 15 means '25 is greater than 15'...

The More Digits Rule A number with more digits is always greater than a number with fewer digits. This is the very first thing to check. For example, any 3-digit number (like 100) is always greater than any 2-digit number (like 99). The Place Value Rule Start comparing digits from the largest place value on the left. If two numbers have the same number of digits, start by comparing the digits in the hundreds place. If they are the same, move to the tens place. If those are also the same, move to the ones place. The Alligator Mouth Analogy $A > B$ or $B < A$ Think of the > and < symbols as a hungry alligator's mouth. The alligator always wants to eat the bigger number, so the open part of the symbol always faces the greatest number.