New
New
Year 6

Compare numbers with up to eight digits

I can explain how to compare numbers with up to 8-digit numbers.

New
New
Year 6

Compare numbers with up to eight digits

I can explain how to compare numbers with up to 8-digit numbers.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The number of digits can help when ordering numbers - usually the more digits, the greater the number.
  2. When comparing numbers, the greatest value digit that is different determines the greater number.
  3. The stem sentence: 'the value of the digit in the ___ column is ___’ supports us to compare numbers.

Keywords

  • Compare - When we compare numbers, we determine whether a number is smaller than, greater than or equal to another according to similarities and differences in their values.

  • Inequality - An inequality compares values and is used to show that one number is not equal to another. The symbols < and > are used to indicate less than (<) or more than (>).

Common misconception

Children may think that the greater value number is the one that starts with the greater value digit even if the number has fewer digits overall.

When comparing numbers, compare the value of the digits not the digits themselves. If both numbers have the same amount of digits, so we need to compare the largest place value digit that is different.

Use of a place value chart for children to write number on may support them to compare.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Look at these numbers. Select the number which is smallest.
1,340
1,430
10,043
1,034
Correct answer: 134
Q2.
Look at these numbers. Select the number which is greatest.
1,340
1,430
Correct answer: 10,043
1,034
134
Q3.
Look at these numbers. Which number is smallest?
1,340
1,430
1,043
Correct answer: 1,034
1,134
Q4.
Look at these numbers. Which number is greatest?
1,340
Correct answer: 1,430
1,043
1,034
1,134
Q5.
509 people visited a museum on Friday. On Saturday, 529 people visited the museum and on Sunday 592 people visited. Which day saw the most visitors?
Correct Answer: Sunday
Q6.
Starting with the smallest, put these numbers in ascending order.
1 - 304
2 - 340
3 - 3,040
4 - 3,404
5 - 3,440

6 Questions

Q1.
Fill in the missing inequality symbol (< or >) 4,130,590 413,590
Correct Answer: >
Q2.
Fill in the missing inequality symbol (< or >) 4,130,590 4,103,590
Correct Answer: >
Q3.
The mass of a tiger is about 310,000 g. A hippopotamus is about 1,300,000 g and a killer whale is about 3,628,000 g. Which animal is the heaviest?
Tiger
Hippopotamus
Correct answer: Killer whale
Q4.
On Monday, 8,034,420 children went to school in England. On Tuesday 8,043,420 children went to school. On Wednesday 8,043,240 children went to school. On which day did the most children attend school?
Monday
Correct answer: Tuesday
Wednesday
Q5.
Starting with the smallest, put these numbers in ascending order.
1 - 3,140
2 - 314,401
3 - 341,401
4 - 3,140,401
5 - 3,410,401
Q6.
Starting with the largest, put these numbers in descending order.
1 - 7,920,003
2 - 6,920,003
3 - 6,902,030
4 - 6,902,003
5 - 692,003