Compare and Order Integers
5-2
You can use a number line to compare and to order integers.
Any positive number is greater than any negative number.
To compareintegers you can use a number line.
5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5
0
1
2
3
1
2
3
On a verticalnumber line:
- Any number is less than a
number above it.
Compare: 2 0
0 is above 2
2 0
Any number is greater than
a number below it.
Compare: 1 3
3 is below 1
1 3
?
?
On a horizontalnumber line:
Any number is less than a
number to its right.
Compare: 1 2
2 is to the right of 1
1 2
Any number is greater than
a number to its left.
Compare: 2 4
4 is to the left of 2
2 4
?
?
To orderintegers using a horizontal number line:
Least to greatest—Begin with the integer farthest to the left.
Greatest to least—Begin with the integer farthest to the right.
Order 2, 5, and 0 from least to greatest.
The order from least to greatest is: 5, 0, 2.
The order from greatest to least is: 2, 0, 5.
Study these examples.
Compare: ⏐ 4 ⏐ ⏐ 2 ⏐ Compare: ⏐ 7 ⏐ (3)
4 2 7 3
So ⏐ 4 ⏐⏐ 2 ⏐ So ⏐ 7 ⏐(3)
??
Think
5 is farthest to the left;
2 is farthest to the right;
0 is between 5 and 2.
Think
⏐ 4 ⏐ 4
⏐ 2 ⏐ 2
Think
⏐ 7 ⏐ 7
(3) 3
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