More, Less and Equal

Who has more stickers? Which box has fewer crayons? Comparing numbers helps us answer questions like these. Today you will learn to compare groups and numbers using the words more, less and equal.

Comparing groups

To compare two groups, line them up side by side. Match one thing from each group.

Example

Jack has 5 apples. Ella has 3 apples. Line them up: Jack’s 5 apples next to Ella’s 3. Two of Jack’s apples have no partner. So Jack has more apples, and Ella has fewer apples.

Equal means the same

If every item has a partner and none are left over, the groups are equal. 4 cats and 4 dogs are equal groups.

Comparing numbers

You can compare numbers without objects too.

• On a number line, the number further right is more.
• On a hundred chart, the number further down or further right is more.
• Counting order helps: a number you say later when counting is more.

Two-digit numbers

To compare 46 and 64, look at the tens first. 46 has 4 tens. 64 has 6 tens. 6 tens is more than 4 tens, so 64 is more than 46.

If the tens are the same, look at the ones. 52 and 57 both have 5 tens. 7 ones is more than 2 ones, so 57 is more.

One more and one less

• One more than 8 is 9. Count forward one step.
• One less than 8 is 7. Count back one step.
• Ten more than 30 is 40. Jump down one row on the hundred chart.

Key takeaways

• Line up two groups to see which has more or fewer.
• Equal groups have the same number.
• For two-digit numbers, compare the tens first, then the ones.
• One more means count forward one, and one less means count back one.

Practice

1. Which is more: 18 or 81?
2. Which is less: 35 or 39?
3. What is one more than 49?
4. What is one less than 20?

Answers: 1 is 81, 2 is 35, 3 is 50, 4 is 19.