Before and After

NCERT anchor: NCERT Joyful Mathematics Class 1 — Chapter 8: Fun with Numbers (number neighbours)

• Find the number just before and just after any number up to 20.
• Use a number line to see neighbours — the number to the left is before; to the right is after.
• Apply before/after in queue and ticket-number situations at school and festivals.

1. Just before (predecessor)

Level 1 (Verbal): The number you say one step back when counting down.

Level 2 (Symbolic): Before n = n − 1 (for numbers above 1).

Visual: On a number line, the point left of 7 is 6 — so 6 is before 7.

2. Just after (successor)

Verbal: The next number when counting up.

Symbolic: After n = n + 1.

Visual: The point right of 7 is 8 — so 8 is after 7.

3. Special cases at the ends

• Before 1 — we do not use 0 in this chapter's counting set.
• After 20 is 21 — useful preview for later grades.

Cricket scoreboard: what comes before and after 13 runs?

Step 1 — Locate 13 on a number line (or draw one from 10 to 16).
Step 2 — Move one step left → 12. So **12 is before 13**.
Step 3 — Move one step right from 13 → 14. So **14 is after 13**.
Step 4 — Say aloud: "Twelve, thirteen, fourteen."
Answer: before 13 → 12; after 13 → 14.

• What number comes just before 9? Just after 9?
• I am standing at 16 on a hopscotch grid. What is my next hop forward?
• Ticket number 11 — what was the ticket before it?
• Stretch: A queue has numbers 18, 19, 20. What number comes after the last person? What comes before 18?

Revision tip: Pick any number 2–19 daily; say its before-and-after neighbours without peeking at a chart.

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Before and After.