Comparing numbers

You already know how to compare two piles of apples. But what if we don't have apples — only digits, like 5 and 8? Which one is bigger?

Picture the dots

Every number is really a small group of things. The number 5 is five dots. The number 8 is eight dots. When you picture the dots, it's easy:

for 5 picture: ⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫
for 8 picture: ⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫

See? 8 has more dots. So 8 is bigger than 5.

The number row rule

Remember the number row?

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

The numbers stand in a line. The further right a number is, the bigger it is. 8 is to the right of 5, so 8 is bigger. 3 is to the left of 5, so 3 is smaller than 5.

Step by step

When you want to compare two numbers:

Picture both numbers in the number row
The one further right is bigger
The one further left is smaller

Words we use

bigger number — the one with the higher value (8 is bigger than 5)
smaller number — the one with the lower value (3 is smaller than 5)
equal numbers — when both numbers are the same (4 = 4)

Examples

7 and 2 → 7 is bigger
4 and 9 → 9 is bigger
6 and 6 → they're equal
1 and 10 → 10 is bigger

Try it yourself

In the Compare numbers exercise we'll show you two numbers. Click the bigger one, or say they're equal.

If comparing numbers feels easy, you can revisit Compare balls too, where the visual balls help you out.