First Grade · Math · week 15

Compare: which is bigger, 47 or 74?

Compare two two-digit numbers using the tens digit first, and the ones digit as a tiebreaker.

To compare two two-digit numbers, look at the TENS digit first. The number with more tens is bigger, no matter what the ones digit says. 74 has 7 tens; 47 has only 4 tens. So 74 is bigger.

If the tens digits are the same, compare the ones digits. 52 and 58 both have 5 tens, so look at the ones: 8 is more than 2, so 58 is bigger.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Build both numbers with rods and units side by side -- more rods wins, obviously.
  • Practice the open-mouth symbol trick: the symbol "opens" toward the bigger number.
  • Give tricky pairs where the ones digit looks bigger but the tens digit still wins, like 41 and 39.
  • Read the finished comparison as a full sentence: "74 is greater than 47."
Talk about it:
  • Which digit do you check first when comparing two numbers?
  • When do you need to look at the ones digit?
  • Which is bigger, 39 or 41? Why might that surprise someone?

Mastery looks like: They compare any two two-digit numbers correctly and write the matching <, >, or = symbol.

Common stumbles: Comparing the ones digit first; assuming a number that looks bigger, because it has more ones, actually is.

Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of Math for this learner.
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