# More, Less and Equal

- Link: https://thecuriosi.com/lessons/more-less-equal/
- Published: 2026-10-31T14:54:47+05:30
- Author: MAHENDRA MANCHIKALAPATI

1. [Courses](https://thecuriosi.com/courses/)
 2. [Counting and Numbers to 100](https://thecuriosi.com/courses/counting-to-100-for-kids/)
 3.  Lesson 7 of 8

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.

  |  Group |  How many? |  Compare |  
   |  Jack’s apples |  5 |  more |  
 |  Ella’s apples |  3 |  fewer |

### 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.

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