Comparison

Comparing and Ordering Numbers

Start at thousands, then hundreds, tens, ones.

Compare	Thousands	Hundreds	Result
4,832 vs 4,791	4 = 4	8 > 7	4,832 > 4,791
6,205 vs 6,205	all equal	—	6,205 = 6,205

Memory hook: The arrow points to the smaller number: 3 < 8.

Order 2,450; 2,540; 2,405; 2,504 ascending:

Step through thousands (all 2) → compare hundreds: 4, 5, 4, 5 → then tens.

Answer: 2,405 < 2,450 < 2,504 < 2,540

Population of three villages: Rampur 3,210, Sonpur 3,120, Deopur 3,215.

Largest: Deopur (3,215); smallest: Sonpur (3,120).

NCERT anchor: Math-Magic 4, Ch 3 — A Trip to Bhopal; Ch 12 — Smart Charts (ordering data and heights)

Compare 5,608 and 5,680

Step 1 — Thousands: 5 = 5; Hundreds: 6 = 6.
Step 2 — Tens: 0 < 8.
Step 3 — **5,608 < 5,680**.
Check: 5,680 − 5,608 = 72 > 0 ✓

Arrange heights (cm): Rahul 142, Ananya 138, Kabir 142, Meera 135 — tallest to shortest

Step 1 — Max height 142 (Rahul and Kabir tie).
Step 2 — Next 138 (Ananya), then 135 (Meera).
Answer: Rahul = Kabir > Ananya > Meera

Mistake	Why it happens	Fix
5,099 > 5,100 because 99 > 00	Comparing last two digits only	Compare from thousands — 5,099 < 5,100
Longer number is always larger	Digit count without place value	Compare place by place; 999 < 1,000
Reversing > and < symbols	Confusing which way the mouth opens	Big number at the open end: 7 > 3
Ignoring zero placeholders (408 vs 480)	Treating 0 as 'no digit'	0 in tens means 408 < 480

Insert >, <, or =: 7,204 ___ 7,240.
Order ascending: 3,890; 3,809; 3,980.
Which is greatest: 5,050 or 5,005?
Stretch: Three 4-digit numbers use digits 2, 5, 8, 0 each exactly once. One number is 5,820. Find another that is greater than 5,820. (e.g. 8,520)

Revision tip: Line numbers up in a place-value table — misaligned digits cause most comparison errors.

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Comparing and Ordering Numbers.