Comparing and ordering numbers
When you have two 3-digit numbers, you don't need to count anything. There is a quick way to tell which one is bigger — just look at the digits in order.
The hundreds-first rule
Compare 482 and 367.
- The hundreds digits are 4 and 3.
- 4 is bigger than 3.
- So 482 is bigger than 367.
You don't even need to look at the rest. The hundreds always decide first.
482 > 367
When the hundreds tie
Compare 528 and 591.
- The hundreds are 5 and 5 — same.
- Move to the tens: 2 and 9.
- 9 is bigger than 2.
- So 591 is bigger than 528.
528 < 591
When tens tie too
Compare 743 and 748.
- Hundreds: 7 = 7.
- Tens: 4 = 4.
- Ones: 3 and 8 — 8 is bigger.
- So 748 > 743.
The strategy in one sentence
Compare the hundreds. If they tie, compare the tens. If those tie too, compare the ones.
That's it. You will never need to look further than three digits, because every number we deal with here has at most three.
Watch out: more digits beats fewer
Compare 87 and 132.
- 87 has two digits, 132 has three digits.
- A three-digit number is always bigger than a two-digit number.
- So 132 > 87.
A number with more digits is always bigger — no need to compare digit by digit.
Putting numbers in order
To order a list like {412, 287, 609, 405}, find the smallest first, then the next smallest, and so on:
- Smallest hundreds digit? 287 has only 2 hundreds — it's the smallest.
- Of the rest (412, 609, 405), the smallest hundreds digit is 4 (twice). Among 412 and 405, look at the tens: 1 vs 0. So 405 < 412.
- Last one is 609.
Final order: 287 < 405 < 412 < 609.
Try it
- ⚖️ Compare numbers to 1,000 — pick <, > or =
- 🔀 Order numbers to 1,000 — smallest to greatest