Ordering whole numbers

Page 1

Place values are used to order whole numbers.

Example

Which of the following four sportspeople earns more in a week?

Player A - £310,500

Player B - £309,500

Player C - £295,500

Player D - £315,500

First, put each sportsperson’s salary into a place value table.

Hundred thousandsTen thousandsThousandsHundredsTensUnits

Player A 310500

Player B . 309500

Player C . 295500

Player D . 315500

Next, look at each column in turn from the left:

the smallest digit in the hundred thousands column is 2, so Player C earns the lowest amount

the smallest digit in the ten thousands column is 0, so Player B earns less than Players A and D

the smallest digit in the thousands column is 0, so Player A earns less than Player D

From highest to lowest, the order is:

Player D - £315,500

Player A - £310,500

Player B - £309,500

Player C - £295,500

Question

Put the following numbers in order from smallest to largest:

42,300

43,290

42,350

43,200

42,250

AReveal answer

Inequality symbols

Inequality symbols can be used to compare the size of numbers.

>Greater than - the wider part of the inequality sign faces the larger number.

<Less than - the wider part of the inequality sign faces the larger number.

≥Greater than or equal to - the wider part of the inequality sign faces the larger number.

≤Less than or equal to - the wider part of the inequality sign faces the larger number.