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Compare Multi-Digit Whole Numbers

Students compare two multi-digit whole numbers by examining place value from left to right, using the symbols >, =, and <. They apply comparisons in contexts such as ordering populations, distances, or scores.

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Compare Multi-Digit Whole Numbers

Grade 4 · Place Value Understanding · question 1 of 3

0 of 20

20 rungs. A star at the top.

Which of these is the least: 1505, 1506, 1549 or 1550?

How it is taught

0:00 of 4:56

Compare digits from the largest place first.

The first different digit decides.

Greater than means the number is larger.

Read it: Compare from the biggest place

Which is greater, 6482 or 6428? The thousands are the same and the hundreds are the same. The tens decide: 8 tens beat 2 tens, so 6482 > 6428.

  1. Line the two numbers up in a place table, place under place.
  2. Start at the biggest place and move right while the digits are the same.
  3. The first place where the digits differ decides: the bigger digit makes the greater number.

Each place is worth ten of the place to its right, so the biggest place counts the most.

Once one place is bigger, the places after it cannot catch up.

A number with more digits is greater, because it has a bigger place the other does not.

Compare from the left. The first place that differs decides.

Choosing 6429 over 6482 because 9 ones beat 2 ones.

Start at the left. The tens differ first: 8 tens beat 2 tens, so 6482 is greater.

7395 ___ 7359 — >. The places to the left are the same, so the tens decide: 7395 > 7359.

7,463 vs 7,481

Maya and Liam just finished a video game. Who scored higher?

Maya scored seven thousand four hundred sixty-three. Liam scored seven thousand four hundred eighty-one. Let's stack them up.

We compare from left to right. Look at the thousands place — both have a seven. It's a tie!

Move right to the hundreds place. Both have a four. Still tied!

Now the tens place. Maya has a six. Liam has an eight.

Eight is greater than six, so Liam's whole number is bigger!

Who scored higher?Maya: 7,463 Liam: 7,481Compare place by place →thhtoMaya7,463Liam7,4817 = 7 tie4 = 4 tie6 < 87,463 < 7,481<WINNERLiam7,481 pts
Grade 4 · Comparing place value left to right

We write seven thousand four hundred sixty-three is less than seven thousand four hundred eighty-one, using the less-than sign.

Liam wins with seven thousand four hundred eighty-one. Always compare left to right, one place at a time.

What you see

While they climb, your page writes one true line to ask about tonight, and a short note each Sunday.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics
Did you know?

A chessboard has 64 squares — share them out between the 8 rows and each row holds exactly 8.

Today’s goal
1 star — one skill mastered, every rung of its ladder climbed
Climbing now
Divide within 100

An example student.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics

Maya earned 2 stars this week — Interpret multiplication as equal groups, which took 6 answers over 3 days before its star landed 3 days ago and Multiply by 6, 7, 8 and 9. Next up: Divide within 100.

An example week.

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