Comparing Numbers – Greater Than, Less Than & Equal To – Class 1 to 3 Maths | CBSE & UP Board | GPN than less than

Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 CBSE UP Board

🐢 Greater Than, Less Than, Equal To — Let’s Compare!

Which number is bigger? Which is smaller? Are they the same? Learning to compare numbers is like being a detective — you look carefully at each number and decide! Let’s crack the code with alligators, number lines, and fun tricks.

📖 In this post:

1 The Three Comparison Symbols
2 The Alligator Trick (Eats the Bigger Number)
3 The “L” Method for Less Than
4 Using a Number Line
5 Comparing Larger Numbers (Place Value)
6 Common Mistakes to Avoid
7 Word Problems
8 Practice Zone

1. The Three Comparison Symbols

We use three special symbols to compare numbers. Think of them as little arrows pointing to the smaller number.

Greater Than

Less Than

Equal To

Example 1

7 is greater than 3. How do we write it?

► Show Answer ▼

7 > 3 (the open side faces 7, the bigger number)

Example 2

2 is less than 9. How do we write it?

► Show Answer ▼

2 < 9 (the point faces 2, the smaller number)

✍️ Try yourself: Write the correct symbol:

5 ___ 8
10 ___ 10
15 ___ 7

2. 🐢 The Alligator Trick (Eats the Bigger Number)

Imagine the symbols are hungry alligators! They always open their mouths toward the bigger number because they want to eat the most.

The alligator eats 8 because 8 > 3

The alligator eats 9 because 4 < 9

Example

Draw the alligator mouth: 12 and 5

► Show Answer ▼

12 > 5 (mouth open toward 12)

🎯 Memory trick: The alligator is greedy — it always faces the bigger number!

3. The “L” Method for Less Than

Here’s another trick: the less than symbol < looks like a slanted letter L. And “Less than” starts with L! So if you see an L-shape, it means “less than”.

L = Less Than

looks like a slanted L

Example

Which symbol goes here? 3 ___ 7

► Show Answer ▼

3 is less than 7 → 3 < 7 (the L-shaped symbol)

💡 Remember: Less Than → L-shaped symbol → <

4. Using a Number Line

On a number line, numbers get bigger as you move to the right, and smaller as you move to the left.

3 is to the left of 7 → 3 < 7
7 is to the right of 3 → 7 > 3

Example

On a number line, which is bigger: 15 or 21?

► Show Answer ▼

21 is to the right of 15 → 21 > 15

✍️ Try yourself: Use a number line (draw one!) to compare:

12 and 8
25 and 30
99 and 101

5. Comparing Larger Numbers (Place Value)

When numbers have more digits, compare step by step from the left.

Rules for comparing:

Step 1: Count the digits. More digits = bigger number.
Step 2: If same number of digits, compare the leftmost digit.
Step 3: If those are equal, move to the next digit, and so on.

Thousands

Hundreds

Tens / Ones

2,435 vs 2,478 → hundreds both 4, tens: 3 < 7 → 2,435 < 2,478

Example 1

Which is bigger: 5,289 or 6,001?

► Show Solution ▼

Both have 4 digits. Compare thousands: 5 vs 6 → 5 < 6, so 5,289 < 6,001

Example 2

Compare: 3,456 and 3,489

► Show Solution ▼

Thousands same (3), hundreds same (4), tens: 5 vs 8 → 5 < 8, so 3,456 < 3,489

✍️ Try yourself: Compare using >, <, or =:

7,234 ___ 7,189
4,500 ___ 4,500
8,999 ___ 9,000

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Confusing the symbols:

Wrong: 7 < 3 (7 is not less than 3!)
Correct: 7 > 3 (alligator eats the bigger number)

Forgetting to check all digits:

Wrong: thinking 234 < 199 because “2 < 1” — No! Compare hundreds: 2 > 1 → 234 > 199
Correct: Compare the leftmost digit first.

Misreading the alligator direction:

The open mouth points to the bigger number.
The pointy end points to the smaller number.

Mistake Detector

A student wrote 45 < 32. Is this correct?

► Check ▼

No! 45 is greater than 32, so it should be 45 > 32. The student put the symbol backwards.

7. Real-Life Word Problems

Problem 1

Riya has 15 stickers. Her friend Anjali has 12 stickers. Who has more stickers? Write using symbols.

► Show Solution ▼

15 > 12 → Riya has more stickers.

Problem 2

A cricket team scored 245 runs. Another team scored 254 runs. Which team scored less? Write using symbols.

► Show Solution ▼

245 < 254 → First team scored less.

Problem 3

A train compartment can hold 120 passengers. A bus can hold 50 passengers. Compare their capacity.

► Show Solution ▼

120 > 50 → Train compartment holds more passengers than the bus.

Problem 4

In a school, there are 350 boys and 345 girls. Are the numbers equal? If not, which is greater?

► Show Solution ▼

350 > 345 → Not equal. Number of boys is greater.

✏️ Practice Zone

Try all questions yourself first. Click the answer key only after you have finished.

Class 1 Level

Q1. Circle the bigger number: 8 or 3
Q2. Circle the smaller number: 12 or 9
Q3. Fill: 7 ___ 4
Q4. Fill: 2 ___ 2
Q5. Draw the alligator mouth: 6 and 10
Q6. Which symbol looks like a hungry alligator mouth?
Q7. True or False: 5 > 8
Q8. True or False: 3 < 7

Class 2 Level

Q9. Compare: 45 ___ 54
Q10. Compare: 89 ___ 89
Q11. Arrange from smallest to largest: 23, 32, 19, 41
Q12. Which is greater: 67 or 76?
Q13. Fill: 99 ___ 100
Q14. Write the correct symbol: 128 ___ 127
Q15. A bag has 35 marbles. Another bag has 53 marbles. Which bag has fewer?
Q16. Compare using place value: 234 and 243

Class 3 Level

Q17. Compare: 1,234 ___ 1,243
Q18. Compare: 5,678 ___ 5,687
Q19. Which is smaller: 3,456 or 3,465?
Q20. Arrange in descending order: 2,345; 2,354; 2,435; 2,453
Q21. Town A has 8,945 people. Town B has 8,954. Which town has more people?
Q22. Compare: 7,890 ___ 7,809
Q23. Write in ascending order: 5,678; 5,687; 5,768; 5,786
Q24. Create your own 4-digit number and compare it with 4,567 using > or <.

Match the Following

1. Greater than symbol

A. <

2. Less than symbol

B. =

3. Equal to symbol

C. looks like a slanted L

4. Alligator mouth opens to

D. the bigger number

🔑 Show Answer Key ▼

Q1. 8 | Q2. 9 | Q3. 7 > 4 | Q4. 2 = 2
Q5. 6 < 10 (mouth open toward 10)
Q6. > and < (both are mouths)
Q7. False | Q8. True
Q9. 45 < 54 | Q10. 89 = 89
Q11. 19, 23, 32, 41 | Q12. 76
Q13. 99 < 100 | Q14. 128 > 127
Q15. 35 marbles bag | Q16. 234 < 243
Q17. 1,234 < 1,243 | Q18. 5,678 < 5,687
Q19. 3,456 | Q20. 2,453; 2,435; 2,354; 2,345
Q21. Town B (8,954) | Q22. 7,890 > 7,809
Q23. 5,678; 5,687; 5,768; 5,786
Match: 1 → >, 2 → A, 3 → B, 4 → D

📄 Practice Worksheet

Reinforce comparing numbers with our 30-question practice worksheet — includes alligator mouth drawing, symbol writing, word problems, and answer key.

► Go to Practice Worksheet

Primary Index Ascending & Descending Order »

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