COMPARE WHOLE NUMBERS

Example 1 :

Compare the whole numbers 3 and 6.

Solution :

Let us locate the two whole numbers 3 and 6 on a number line and mark them.

Here, 6 comes to the right of 3.

Therefore 6 is greater than 3.

And 3 comes to the left of 6.

Therefore 3 is smaller than 6.

Example 2 :

Compare the whole numbers 6 and 9.

Solution :

Let us locate the two whole numbers 6 and 9 on a number line and mark them.

Here, 9 comes to the right of 6.

Therefore 9 is greater than 6.

And 6 comes to the left of 9.

Therefore 6 is smaller than 9.

Example 3 :

Compare the whole numbers 625 and 628 and find which one is greater.

Solution :

Since the given numbers are three digit numbers, instead of using number line, we can compare the given numbers by comparing the digits in hundreds place, tens place and ones place.

In 625 and 628, we have the same digit in hundreds place and tens place. So compare the digits in tens place.

The digit in one place of 625 is 5 and 628 is 8.

Since 8 is greater than 5, 628 is greater than 625.

Example 4 :

Compare the whole numbers 870 and 869 and find which one is greater.

Solution :

We can compare the given numbers by comparing the digits in hundreds place, tens place and ones place.

In 870 and 869, we have the same digit in hundred place.

The digit in tens place of 870 is 7 and 869 is 6.

Since 7 is greater than 6, 870 is greater than 869.

Example 5 :

In 2010, Sacramento, California, received 23 inches in annual precipitation. In 2011, the city received 17 inches in annual precipitation. In which year was there more precipitation ?

Solution :

Locate the two whole numbers 23 and 17 on a number line and mark them.

23 is to the right of 17 on the number line.

This means that 23 is greater than 17.

We can write the above situation in terms of inequality as 23 > 17.

17 is to the left of 23 on the number line.

This means that 17 is less than 23.

We can write the above situation in terms of inequality as 17 < 23.

There was more precipitation in 2010.

Example 6 :

There were 35,817 visitors at an aquarium in March; 39,650 in April; 38,297 in May; and 33,254 in June. In which month did the least number of visitors go to the aquarium?

Solution :

Number of visitors in March = 35871

Number of visitors in April = 39650

Number of visitors in May = 38297

Number of visitors in June = 33256

Least number = 33256

So, number of visitors in the month of June is minimum.

Example 7 :

During a football game, fans bought 8,542 bags of popcorn. They bought 5,398 pieces of fruit. They also bought 7,208 sandwiches. Which shows the snacks in order from the least number to the greatest number?

A) fruit, sandwiches, popcorn

B) sandwiches, fruit, popcorn

C) fruit, popcorn, sandwiches

D) popcorn, sandwiches, fruit

Solution :

Number of bags of popcorn = 8542

Number of pieces of fruit = 5398

Number of sandwiches = 7208

Arranging from least to greatst,

5398 < 7208 < 8542

Fruit < Sandwiches < Popcorn

So, option A is correct.

Example 8 :

Nina needs to know which is greater, 41,381 or 35,927. Which place should she look at first to compare the numbers?

A) the hundreds place     B) the tens place

C) the thousands place     D) the ten thousands place

Solution :

Number of name of 41,381 is

forty one thousand three hundred eighty one

35,927

Thirty five thousand and nine hundred and twenty seven.

By comparing ten thousands place, we get 35927 is greater.

Example 9 :

Luke’s book has 182 pages. Elena’s book has 208 pages. Corey’s book has more pages than Luke’s and fewer pages than Elena’s. Which could be the number of pages in Corey’s book?

A) 179     B) 224    C) 194      D) 210

Solution :

Number of pages in Luke's book = 182

Number of pages in Elena's book = 208

Number of pages in Corey's book = more than Luke and lesser than Elena's

Arranging the number of pages from least to greatest, we get

Luke's book < Corey's book < Elena's book

So, the number that we choose should lie in between 182 and 208. Then the answer is 194.

Example 10 :

The dolphin exhibit had 5,346 visitors in the winter; 4,437 in the spring; 6,107 in the summer; and 5,275 in the fall. In which season did the most visitors go to the exhibit?

A) winter     B) spring   C) summer     D) fall

Solution :

Number of visitors in the winter = 5346

Number of visitors in spring = 4437

Number of visitors in summer = 6107

Number of visitors in fall = 5275

Comparing these four numbers 6107 is greater. So, number of visitors in the summer is greater. Option C is correct.

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