Comparing Numbers
What Does Comparing Mean?
When we compare, we look at two groups and see which has more or less.
We use special signs to show this:
- > means greater than (more)
- = means equal to (the same)
- < means less than (fewer)
The Hungry Alligator Trick!
The sign is like a hungry alligator mouth. The alligator always wants to eat the bigger number!
So we write: 7 > 3
Comparing with Objects
Let's compare apples and oranges!
Apples
5 apples
>
Oranges
3 oranges
We write: 5 > 3
We say: 5 is greater than 3