Bigger, Smaller, Equal: Math Words That Compare
If you have 3 cookies and your friend has 5 cookies, who has more? Math has special words just for questions like that: more, fewer, greater, less, and equal. Learning these words helps you talk about numbers the way mathematicians do.
What You'll Learn
- Use the words 'greater than,' 'less than,' and 'equal to' - Read and use the symbols > , < , and = - Compare two groups of objects by counting them - Compare two written numbers
Comparing Groups by Counting
To compare two groups, count each one first. If you have a plate with 4 grapes and a plate with 7 grapes, count them: 4 and 7. Since 7 is more than 4, we say the second plate has a 'greater' number of grapes, and the first plate has 'fewer.' If both plates had 5 grapes, we'd say the amounts are 'equal.'
The Alligator Mouth Trick
The symbols > and < can be confusing, so many classrooms use the 'hungry alligator' trick: imagine the symbol is an alligator's open mouth, and the alligator always wants to eat the BIGGER number. So in 7 > 4, the alligator's mouth (the wide-open side) faces the 7, because 7 is bigger. In 2 < 9, the mouth faces the 9. The equal sign = simply means both sides are exactly the same amount, like 6 = 6.
> means 'greater than' (the first number is bigger). < means 'less than' (the first number is smaller). = means 'equal to' (they're the same). The pointy end of the symbol always points at the smaller number.
Flashcards — click each card to reveal the answer
A red cup has 6 blocks and a blue cup has 9 blocks. Which comparison word describes the red cup compared to the blue cup?
Which symbol correctly completes this comparison: 8 ___ 3?
Compare Your Own Collections
Gather two small collections from around your home (like 2 different types of toys, or spoons vs. forks). Count each group, then write the comparison three ways: using words ('greater than'/'less than'/'equal to'), using a symbol (>, <, or =), and by drawing both groups side by side.
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