Comparing Numbers Worksheet
Twenty-four pairs of numbers to compare with <, > or =. Part A uses 2-digit numbers for grade 1; Part B uses 3-digit numbers for grade 2. Many pairs share the same first digit or use the same digits in a different order, so students have to compare place by place.
- Grade
- Grade 1–2
- Problems
- 24
- Time
- About 10 minutes
- Standard
- 1.NBT.B.3, 2.NBT.A.4
Download
Download PDF (US Letter) Download PDF (A4)Two pages: the worksheet, then the answer key. No sign-up needed.
Part A: 2-digit numbers Write <, > or =.
- 78<97
- 29>25
- 36>33
- 67>63
- 63>50
- 97=97
- 97>89
- 57>23
- 72>27
- 16<17
- 33<72
- 44>41
Part B: 3-digit numbers Write <, > or =.
- 219<504
- 204=204
- 977>308
- 171<678
- 365<563
- 320<384
- 735<791
- 482>284
- 849>333
- 416>135
- 686>614
- 394>389
Tips for teachers and parents
- Teach students to compare from the left: hundreds first, then tens, then ones. The first place that differs decides.
- When the tens digits match, as in 63 and 65, ask your student to look at the ones.
- Remind students that the open side of < and > faces the larger number. "The alligator eats the bigger number" works for many children.
- Each part has one equal pair, so students cannot assume every answer is < or >.
Common mistakes
- Deciding by the ones digit first, for example saying 29 > 41 because 9 is bigger than 1.
- Treating numbers with the same digits as equal, such as 568 and 865.
What to practice next
Ordering numbers asks students to compare four numbers at once.
Frequently asked questions
How do you compare 2-digit numbers?
Compare the tens digits first. If they are the same, compare the ones digits.
What grade is this worksheet for?
Part A matches grade 1 (2-digit numbers) and Part B matches grade 2 (3-digit numbers). Second graders can do the whole sheet.
Is there an answer key?
Yes, page 2 has all 24 answers.