6th Grade Math Textbook, Progress

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

1.1

8206-2_152-153 10/12/07 6:43 PM Page 152