Comparing numbers

Team A scored 9 runs. Team B scored 24. Which number is bigger?

The rule

24 is bigger than 9. These steps show why.

Compare whole numbers, such as 9 and 24, in two steps.

1. Count the digits. More digits means a bigger number.
2. Same number of digits? Compare from the left. The first digit that is different decides.

Example

24 has two digits. 9 has one. 24 has tens, and 9 has only ones. So 24 is bigger.

4502 and 4520 have four digits each. Compare from the left. The first digits are 4 and 4, the same. The second digits are 5 and 5, the same. The third digits are 0 and 2. 2 is bigger than 0, so 4520 is bigger.

Try the lab to finish this lesson.