Order and compare numbers beyond 1000
You already know the thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones places. To compare two four-digit numbers, look at their digits from left to right. Start with the thousands digit, since it carries the most value.
The Otters counted 4,582 bottle caps. The Herons counted 4,519. The thousands digits are both 4, so that is a tie. The hundreds digits are both 5, another tie. Now check the tens digit: 8 is bigger than 1. So the Otters have more bottle caps. 4,582 is bigger than 4,519.
If two numbers have a different number of digits, the one with more digits is always bigger. When both have four digits, compare place by place from the thousands down, and stop as soon as you find a difference.
Compare four-digit numbers by checking digits from the thousands down, and stop as soon as one digit wins.
You know the four places in a four-digit number: thousands, hundreds, tens, ones. Each digit counts bundles of its own size. Two teams have been collecting bottle caps. The Otters counted 4,582 and the Herons counted 4,519.
Which place do you read first to find out who collected more?
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18 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.