Virginia SOL Math / Grade 3 / Number & Number Sense

3.NS.2

Compare & Order Whole Numbers

What you'll learn

  • Compare two whole numbers up to 9,999 using >, <, =, and ≠
  • Order up to three whole numbers from least to greatest and greatest to least
  • Use place value to justify a comparison

Words to know

Greater than (>) —
the first number is larger
Less than (<) —
the first number is smaller
Equal to (=) —
the numbers have the same value
Not equal to (≠) —
the numbers have different values
Order —
arrange numbers from least to greatest, or the reverse

Why it matters Comparing numbers helps us tell which is more — points in a game, dollars saved, miles traveled — and put a list in a sensible order.

Worked examples

Model ItI do

Compare 3,482 and 3,428.

Line up the places and compare from the left. The thousands (3) and hundreds (4) match. In the tens place, 8 is greater than 2, so 3,482 > 3,428.

Try It TogetherWe do

Order 1,205, 1,250, and 1,025 from least to greatest.

Thousands are all 1. Compare hundreds: 1,025 has 0 hundreds (least). Then 1,205 and 1,250 both have 2 hundreds; compare tens: 0 < 5. Order: 1,025 < 1,205 < 1,250.

Now YouYou do

Write >, <, or = : 4,600 ___ 4,060.

Compare the hundreds place first. Check your answer in the back of this chapter.

Practice

Mastered 0 of 11

Warm-up

Ease in with the basics.

  1. 1.Write >, <, or = : 47 ___ 74

  2. 2.Which is greater: 350 or 305?

  3. 3.Order from least to greatest: 60, 16, 61.

On Level

The core Quick Check from the book.

  1. 1.Write >, <, or = : 2,999 ___ 3,001

  2. 2.Write >, <, or = : 5,140 ___ 5,140

  3. 3.Order from greatest to least: 812, 821, 128.

  4. 4.Which is greater: 7,309 or 7,390?

  5. 5.Write a number that makes this true: 6,500 < ______ < 6,600.

Challenge

Stretch your thinking.

  1. 1.Order from greatest to least: 4,708, 4,780, 4,078.

  2. 2.Write >, <, or = : 9,090 ___ 9,009

  3. 3.Which whole number makes this true: 3,240 < ______ < 3,250?