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Grade 1 · Maths · Lessons
Bigger, smaller, the same
🔢numbers🐊greater⚖️same🔟tens first
Which is bigger?
The big ideaLook at the tens first. If they match, the ones decide.

How it works

Look at the tens first. The bigger tens digit means the bigger number.

If the tens match, look at the ones.

Use > for bigger, < for smaller and = for the same.

88• 8 tens• 8 ones85• 8 tens• 5 ones
88 and 85 have the same tens, so the ones decide.

Example 1: Tens are different

  1. 70 ? 15
  2. Look at the tens.
  3. 7 tens is more than 1 ten.
  4. So the answer is >.

Example 2: Tens are the same

  1. 88 ? 85
  2. The tens match, so look at the ones.
  3. The bigger ones digit wins.
  4. So the answer is >.

Example 3: Exactly the same

  1. 93 ? 93
  2. The tens match. The ones match.
  3. Both are the same, so we use equals.
  4. So the answer is =.

Words to know

greater than
More than. We write >.
less than
Fewer than. We write <.

Watch out

Try it

  1. 48 ? 46
  2. 34 ? 38
  3. 66 ? 27
Answers: 1. > · 2. < · 3. >
For grown-upsWrite two numbers with a gap between them and let your child pick the sign. Cover the ones first.
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