M2.1.4 For the adult
Comparing and ordering
The nines look so big. Is 999 bigger than 1 000?
What this chapter teaches
More digits means a bigger number. With the same number of digits, the first digit that differs from the left decides. A common mistake is thinking 999 is bigger than 1 000.
Three questions to ask
There is no one right wording. Listen for the idea.
- How can you tell which of 2 900 and 10 000 is bigger without counting?
- What do you look at first when two numbers have the same number of digits? Why?
- How would you make the biggest number from the digits 4, 0, 7 and 2?
After the chapter, the learner can
- Compare two numbers up to 10 000 using < and >
- Put five numbers in order from smallest to largest
What they copy into their notebook
More digits means a bigger number. With the same count of digits, look from the left. The first digit that differs decides. 3 < 5 and 5 > 3. The open side faces the bigger number.