Compare whole numbers

Comparing whole numbers through 1,000,000 involves interpreting place value to determine whether one quantity is less than, greater than, or equal to another: compare the greatest place first, then proceed to lower places only when needed. Learners represent these relationships with <, >, and = and on number lines, understanding that the number of digits alone is not always sufficient when place values are aligned; decimals, negative numbers, and more general number systems are outside this scope.

Detailed Explanation: Compare whole numbers

To compare whole numbers, start with the greatest place value and move to the right only if the digits are equal.

Remember:

$>$ means “greater than”
$<$ means “less than”
$=$ means “equal to”

Example

Compare $(482{,}731)$ and $(479{,}856)$ .

Compare the hundred-thousands digits:
Both numbers have $4$ , so they are equal so far.
Compare the ten-thousands digits:
$8$ is greater than $7$ .
Since $(8>7)$ , the first number is greater. We do not need to compare the remaining digits.

Therefore,

482{,}731>479{,}856

The number $(482{,}731)$ would also be farther to the right on a number line, because greater numbers are farther to the right.

Learn by doing: Compare whole numbers

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Compare Four- or Five-Digit Numbers to 50,000

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