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Compare Three-Digit Numbers Using Place Value

Students will compare two three-digit numbers by examining the hundreds, tens, and ones digits from left to right. They will determine which number is greater, less than, or equal and explain their reasoning using place value language.

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Compare Three-Digit Numbers Using Place Value

Grade 2 · Comparing Three-Digit Numbers · question 1 of 3

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12 rungs. A star at the top.

Which comparison is true?

How it is taught

0:00 of 2:56

Compare hundreds first.

If hundreds match, look at tens next.

Read it: Hundreds first

528 or 582? Put both in a place table. The hundreds are the same: 5 and 5. The tens decide: 8 tens beat 2 tens. So 582 > 528.

  1. Line up the hundreds, the tens and the ones.
  2. Start at the hundreds. Find the first place that is different.
  3. That place decides. More there means greater.

1 hundred is more than 9 tens and 9 ones, so the hundreds count first.

A place that is the same does not decide. Look at the next place.

The sign opens toward the greater number: 582 > 528.

Compare from the left: hundreds, then tens, then ones. The first place that is different decides.

Choosing 297 over 312, because 9 tens is more than 1 ten.

The hundreds decide first: 3 hundreds beat 2 hundreds, so 312 > 297.

Which is greater: 645 or 654? — 654. The hundreds are the same, so the tens decide: 654.

463 vs 458

Let's compare two numbers: four hundred sixty-three and four hundred fifty-eight. Which one is greater?

We'll stack them so each digit lines up under the same place.

Every digit has a place — hundreds, tens, and ones.

Always start with the biggest place. Look at the hundreds.

Both numbers have four hundreds. They're equal here, so we keep going.

Which is greater: 463 or 458?Use place value to decide.HundredsTensOnes4634584 = 46 > 5463 > 458the tens place decided itANSWER463 > 458tens decided it
Grade 2 · Compare hundreds, then tens, then ones

Now slide right to the tens place.

Six tens is greater than five tens. That's our answer!

So four hundred sixty-three is greater than four hundred fifty-eight.

When the digits in one place are equal, just slide right to the next place. Place value wins!

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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