A comparison is justified by explaining why one whole number is greater than, less than, or equal to another, using place value from hundreds through ones and, when useful, a number line or base-ten representation. The reasoning connects the quantities to the symbols , , and , including cases with equal leading digits or equal numbers; comparisons beyond 1,000 and more abstract generalizations are not included.
To justify a comparison, compare the place values from left to right: hundreds, then tens, then ones. Stop when you find the first place where the digits are different.
Example: Compare and .
So, look at the next place.
Compare the tens.
has tens, and has tens. Since , is greater than .
Use the correct symbol.
The comparison is justified because both numbers have the same number of hundreds, but has more tens. The ones do not need to be compared because the tens already show which number is greater.
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