Maths Library

Comparing and Ordering Numbers: Year 6 maths

This topic covers relative magnitude, comparing quantities, and ordering values from smallest to largest or vice versa. Pupils practise using comparison symbols (<, >, =) and placing multi-digit numbers in order.

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What this covers

Comparing and Ordering Numbers is taught in Year 6 (age 11 to 12) as a topic to introduce. It sits in the Number strand.

Worked example

Insert <, >, or = to make the statement true: 345 __ 354

  1. Compare the hundreds digits: both have 3 hundreds.
  2. Compare the tens digits: 4 tens is less than 5 tens.
  3. Therefore, 345 is less than 354.

Answer: <

Difficulty scale

The sheet generator offers five difficulty settings for this topic.

  1. Comparing two numbers up to 20 using words (greater than, less than)
  2. Using <, >, and = for numbers up to 100
  3. Ordering three or four numbers up to 1,000
  4. Ordering up to five numbers up to 100,000
  5. Ordering mixed positive/negative integers or multi-digit numbers past 1,000,000

Common mistakes

  • Interpreting the inequality sign backwards by confusing the wider mouth with smaller values
  • Assuming a number starting with a larger digit is always bigger regardless of total digit length

Curriculum links

Indicative matches to Australian Curriculum v9. Check wording and codes against the official document.

  • AC9M6N02 Recognise, represent, and order integers on a number line in practical contexts.

Sample sheet and answers

Six questions at the level's usual difficulty. Open the editor to change, add or regenerate any of them.

Comparing and Ordering Numbers

Year 6 maths

Qs
6
Marks
12
NameDateScore / 12
1.
Write <, > or = in the box: 7401 6660
[2]
2.
Write <, > or = in the box: 674 6342
[2]
3.
Write <, > or = in the box: 1568 1568
[2]
4.
Write <, > or = in the box: 4144 3371
[2]
5.
Write <, > or = in the box: 7206 460
[2]
6.
Write <, > or = in the box: 8450 1688
[2]

Answer key

  1. >Compare the digits from the left; 7401 > 6660
  2. <Compare the digits from the left; 674 < 6342
  3. =Compare the digits from the left; 1568 = 1568
  4. >Compare the digits from the left; 4144 > 3371
  5. >Compare the digits from the left; 7206 > 460
  6. >Compare the digits from the left; 8450 > 1688