Find the order
key notes:
📘 What Does “Order” Mean?
Ordering means arranging numbers from smallest to largest or largest to smallest.
- Smallest to largest → Ascending order (going up)
- Largest to smallest → Descending order (going down)
🔼 Ascending Order (Small → Big)
In ascending order, numbers increase.
Example:
Arrange in ascending order:
45, 12, 89, 34
➡ 12, 34, 45, 89
🔽 Descending Order (Big → Small)
In descending order, numbers decrease.
Example:
Arrange in descending order:
76, 22, 91, 60
➡ 91, 76, 60, 22
🔢 Compare the Digits
When ordering, compare place values:
- Compare hundreds place
- If same → compare tens place
- If same → compare ones place
Example:
Which is bigger: 452 or 439?
- Compare hundreds → both 4
- Compare tens → 5 is bigger than 3
➡ 452 > 439
🧠 Use Number Line Understanding
Numbers to the left are smaller, to the right are larger.
Example:
On a number line:
15 is left of 18 → 15 < 18
📝 Always Check Carefully
Some mistakes happen when:
- Numbers look similar
- One number has more digits
Rule:
More digits = bigger number
Example: 345 > 98
🎯 Ordering Mixed Numbers
Even if numbers have different digits, follow the place value rule and arrange.
Example:
Order: 7, 29, 104, 56
➡ 7, 29, 56, 104 (ascending)
⭐ Use Comparison Symbols
- < means smaller
- > means bigger
- = means equal
Example:
43 < 58
72 > 69
Learn with an example
1) The white house is not taller than the red house. The brown house is shorter than the white house.
Which house is the shortest?
- Use the story to put the houses in order.
- The white house is not taller than the red house.
| Shorter | Taller |
| white house | red house |
- The brown house is shorter than the white house.
| Shorter | Taller |
| brown house | red house |
- The brown house is the shortest.
2) The yellow dog is larger than the grey dog but smaller than the white dog.
Which dog is the smallest?
- Use the story to put the dogs in order.
- The yellow dog is larger than the grey dog.
| Smaller | Larger |
| grey dog | yellow dog |
- The yellow dog is smaller than the white dog.
| Smaller | Larger |
| grey dog | white dog |
- The grey dog is the smallest.
3) The Panthers scored fewer points than the Sharks but more points than the Bears.
Which team scored more points, the Bears or the Sharks?
- Use the story to put the number of points for each team in order.
- The Panthers scored fewer points than the Sharks.
| Fewer Points | More Points |
| Panthers | Sharks |
- The Panthers scored more points than the Bears.
| Fewer Points | More Points | |
| Bears | Panthers | Sharks |
- The Sharks scored more points.
Let’s practice!🖊️
