Compare Multi-Digit Numbers

10 min

Narrative

This Warm-up prompts students to carefully analyze and compare features of 4 multi-digit numbers. It gives students a reason to use language precisely (MP6). Although students used place value terminology in the previous section, this activity lets the teacher hear the terminologies students use as they describe and compare each number. The observations they make in the activity prepare students to reason about the relative size of numbers later in this lesson.

Launch

  • Groups of 2
  • Display image.
  • “Pick 3 that go together. Be ready to share why they go together.”
  • 1 minute: quiet think time
Teacher Instructions
  • “Discuss your thinking with your partner.”
  • 2–3 minutes: partner discussion
  • Share and record responses.

Student Task

Which 3 go together?

  1. 1,095
  2. 3,195
  3. 9,053
  4. 31,095

Sample Response

Sample responses:

A, B, and C go together because:

  • They have 4 digits.

A, B, and D go together because:

  • They end with 5.
  • They end with 95.

A, C, and D go together because:

  • They have a zero in the hundreds place.

B, C, and D go together because:

  • They have 3 as a digit.
Activity Synthesis (Teacher Notes)
  • “These numbers have some of the same digits—0, 1, 3, 5, and 9. Are they all the same size?” (No)
  • “Which of these is the greatest? How do you know?” (30,195, because it has five digits and is in the ten-thousands. The other numbers have fewer digits and are in the thousands.)
  • “The other numbers are all four-digit numbers. How might we compare them?” (Compare the digits in the thousands place and see which one is greater.)
Standards
Addressing
  • 4.NBT.2·Read and write multi-digit whole numbers using base-ten numerals, number names, and expanded form. Compare two multi-digit numbers based on meanings of the digits in each place, using >, =, and < symbols to record the results of comparisons.
  • 4.NBT.A.2·Read and write multi-digit whole numbers using base-ten numerals, number names, and expanded form. Compare two multi-digit numbers based on meanings of the digits in each place, using <span class="math">\(&gt;\)</span>, =, and <span class="math">\(&lt;\)</span> symbols to record the results of comparisons.

15 min

10 min