Greater or smaller
By the end of this lesson a child compares two numbers up to 20 and writes >, <, or =. They look at the ten first. They look at the ones only when the tens are the same.
What the child can do at the end
- Read > as “greater than” and < as “less than”.
- For 14 and 17, see the same ten first, then compare 4 and 7.
- Know that 14 is greater than 9, even though the digit 9 is greater than the digit 4.
How to compare
A number with a ten is greater than a number that has only ones. If both numbers have a ten, the one with more ones is greater. If the tens and the ones are the same, the numbers are equal and the sign is =.
One problem, step by step
Which is greater, 14 or 17?
- Look at the tens. Both numbers have 1 ten.
- The tens match, so look at the ones: 4 and 7.
- 4 is less than 7, so 14 is less than 17.
- Write 14 < 17. The open side of the sign faces the greater number.
A common mistake
The child compares 9 and 14 and says 9 is greater, because 9 is greater than 4. They look only at the last digit. 14 has a ten and 9 does not, so 14 is greater: 9 < 14.
The other mistake is the sign. The child writes 14 > 17 because 14 is written first. The sign does not depend on which number is on the left. It depends on which number is greater.
Practice
Write >, <, or =.
- 8 ___ 12
- 15 ___ 15
- 19 ___ 16
- 10 ___ 9
- 13 ___ 17
Answers
- 8 < 12
- 15 = 15
- 19 > 16
- 10 > 9
- 13 < 17
10 and 9: the ten beats a single digit. Ten is a full box, and nine is less than that box.
After the lesson
When the signs are right, open the lesson on even and odd numbers. There, numbers are split into pairs instead of compared by size.
For a parent
Draw two piles. Let the child first say which pile has a ten. They draw the sign only after they say out loud which number is greater.