This math skill teaches how to compare two numbers by examining them place value by place value, starting with the highest (tens). If tens are equal, the ones place is then compared. The "<" symbol is metaphorically described as an alligator that "eats" the larger number.
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Less than, greater than, in ten groups
Test your understanding of less, greater in ten groups by practicing it! Work through the below exercises to use it in practice.
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Let's compare these two ten groups and see whether the first group is less than, greater than, or equal to the second group
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For comparing two numbers, we start with the largest place value, in this case the tens. We have 2 tens on each side, so the tens are equal. We can move to the next place value, the ones.
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In the first group, we have 5, and in the second group we have 6, so the first group is less than the second
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We can think of the less than and greater than signs as being like alligators. They eat the larger amount, so the less than sign opens its alligator mouth towards the second group