Comparing Numbers for Class 3 Maths

Here the student will recall comparing numbers and ordering numbers from their previous class. The rules of ordering numbers in ascending and descending order are discussed here with ascending and descending order examples.

The student will learn to

Compare numbers using the symbols “<”, “>”, “=”.
Arrange numbers in ascending order and
Arrange the numbers in descending order
Formation of greatest and smallest numbers from the given digits

This concept is explained to class 3 students using examples, illustrations and concept maps. At the end of the page, two printable worksheets of comparing and ordering numbers with solutions are attached for the students.

Download the worksheets and solutions to assess our knowledge of the concept.

When working with the numbers, it's important to be able to compare the value of two or more numbers and arrange them in order. The process to find if a number is greater than, smaller than or equal to the other number is called comparison of numbers.

Compare Numbers Using Symbols:

How Do You Compare Numbers:

Rules	Example
1) If the two numbers have different number of digits, then the number with more digit is the greater one.	12645 > 1264 Since 12645 is 5 digit number and 1264 is 4 digit number
2)If the numbers have same number of digits, then the number which is ahead in counting is the greater one.	3856 > 3855 As 3855 + 1 = 3856
3)If the numbers have same digit, then one should start comparing from the thousand places.	9876 > 8976 Since 9 > 8
4)If the thousand place digits are same then one should start comparing from the hundred place and the rest of the process will be going same.	4823 > 4756 Since 8 > 7
5)If the hundred place digits are same then one should start comparing from the 10th place.	3697 > 3684
6)If the 10th place digits are same then one should start comparing from the one’s place.	2543 < 2544

Ordering Numbers

The process of arranging given numbers either in increasing order (ascending order) or in decreasing order (descending order) is called ordering of number.

Arrange the Numbers in Ascending Order:

Compare all the given numbers with the smallest number should be the 1st number when arranging in ascending order.
Continue the same process for the rest of the given numbers.

Ascending Order Example:

Arrange the given numbers in the ascending order 2564, 2478, 3596.

Answer:

Comparing the numbers at thousand’s place, it is clear that

3 > 2. So, the smallest number among these numbers is one of 2564 and 2478.

The smallest number between 2564 and 2478 is 2478, as 5, and 4 are digits at hundred’s place and 5 > 4.

So, 2478 < 2564 < 3596.

Hence, the ascending order for the numbers will be 2478, 2564, 3596.

Arrange the Numbers in Descending Order:

After comparing all the numbers given, the greatest number should be the 1st number when arranging in descending order.
Continue the same process for the rest of the given numbers.

Descending Order Example:

Arrange the given numbers in the descending order 2564, 2478,3596

Answer:

Comparing the numbers it is clear that 3 > 2. So, the greatest number among these numbers is 3596.

The greatest number between 2564 and 2478 is 2564, as 5 > 4.

So, 3596 > 2564 > 2478

Hence, the descending order for the numbers will be 3596 ,2564, 2478.

Formation of Greatest and Smallest Number From the Given Digits: