How_To_Be_Good_At_Math

NUMBERS • COMPARING NUMBERS 21

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Answers on page 319

Using symbols to compare numbers

We use these signs, called comparison symbols,

when we compare numbers or amounts.

Equals

This symbol means

“is equal to”.

For example, 90 + 40 = 130

means “90 + 40 is equal to 130”.

Greater than

This symbol means

“is greater than”.

For example, 24 > 14 means

“24 is greater than 14”.

Less than

This symbol means

“is less than”.

For example, 11 < 32 means

“11 is less than 32”.

Significant digits

The significant digits of a number are the digits that influence

the value of the number. When we compare numbers,

significant digits are very useful.

Here’s a reminder of the three

symbols you’ll need:

Equals

Is greater than

Is less than

Most

significant

digit

The narrowest

part of the

symbol points to

the smaller

number

1 4 0 4

1 4 0 4 1 1 3 3

Second

significant

digit

Least

significant

digit

The second

significant digit is

larger in this number

Third

significant

digit

The most significant

digits are the same

This number has

four digits. The

most significant digit is

the one with the

highest place value,

and so on, down to the

least significant digit.

Let’s compare 1404

and 1133. The place

value of the most

significant digits is the

same, so we compare

the second most

significant digits.

The second most

significant digit

of 1404 is larger than it

is in 1133. So, 1404 is

the larger number.

Which symbol?

Complete each of these

examples by adding one of

the three symbols you’ve

learned.

5123? 10 221

−2? 3

71 399? 71 100

20 – 5? 11 + 4

Th H T 0

1404

1133

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