The idea, step by step
Read the places
A three-digit number tells how many hundreds, tens and ones it contains. Read 426 as four hundred and twenty-six. The first digit is worth hundreds, not single objects.
| Hundreds | Tens | Ones | Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 | 6 | 426 |
| 7 | 0 | 9 | 709 |
Compare from the left
First compare hundreds. If they match, compare tens. If the tens also match, compare ones. A number line puts smaller numbers to the left and larger numbers to the right. Do not compare only the last digit.
A common trap
Choosing 427 as larger than 472 because 7 is larger than 2.
Instead: Compare the tens before the ones: 7 tens is larger than 2 tens, so 472 is larger.
See the thinking
Same hundreds
Put 308, 380 and 803 in order from smallest to largest.
- 308 and 380 have 3 hundreds; 803 has 8 hundreds, so 803 is largest.
- 308 has 0 tens and 380 has 8 tens, so 308 comes first.
Reading a zero place
Write 605 in words.
- The 6 represents 6 hundreds.
- The 0 shows there are no tens; the 5 represents 5 ones.
Check your understanding
Which is larger: 589 or 598?
Show answer
598
The hundreds match. Nine tens is more than eight tens.
Your turn
6 questions · Work at your own pace.
Read the questions online
- Write 214 in words.
- Write seven hundred and thirty in digits.
- Which is smaller: 456 or 465?
- Order 902, 290 and 920 from smallest to largest.
- What number is 1 more than 999?
- Ana says 681 is larger than 618. Is she right? Explain.
Read the worked solutions
- Write 214 in words.
214 is 2 hundreds, 1 ten and 4 ones.
Two hundred and fourteen. - Write seven hundred and thirty in digits.
7 hundreds, 3 tens and no ones make 730.
730 - Which is smaller: 456 or 465?
The hundreds match; 5 tens is less than 6 tens.
456 - Order 902, 290 and 920 from smallest to largest.
Compare hundreds first, then the tens of 902 and 920.
290, 902, 920 - What number is 1 more than 999?
One more one completes another ten, hundred and thousand.
1,000 - Ana says 681 is larger than 618. Is she right? Explain.
8 tens is more than 1 ten; the ones do not change this comparison.
Yes. Both have 6 hundreds, but 681 has more tens.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum Mathematics
Reading/ordering numbers; hundreds/tens/ones; zero; regrouping and renaming.
Official curriculum source ↗