🔢 MathLevel 1Lesson 7
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Ordering Numbers

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What you will learn

  • 1Arrange a set of numbers from smallest to largest
  • 2Arrange a set of numbers from largest to smallest
  • 3Find the number that comes before, between, or after another number
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Mini Lesson

We can put numbers in order — just like lining up people from shortest to tallest. Numbers have a natural order too!

Smallest to largest (ascending order)

  • Start with the smallest number and go up: 5, 12, 28, 41.
  • Each number is bigger than the one before it.
  • Tip: use the number line — go from left to right.

Largest to smallest (descending order)

  • Start with the biggest number and go down: 41, 28, 12, 5.
  • Each number is smaller than the one before it.
  • Tip: use the number line — go from right to left.

Before, between, and after

  • Before: the number just before 30 is 29.
  • After: the number just after 30 is 31.
  • Between: the number between 29 and 31 is 30.

Words to know

Ascending order

Numbers ordered from smallest to largest

e.g. 5, 12, 28, 41 is in ascending order.

Descending order

Numbers ordered from largest to smallest

e.g. 41, 28, 12, 5 is in descending order.

Before

The number just one less than another number

e.g. 29 comes before 30.

After

The number just one more than another number

e.g. 31 comes after 30.

Between

A number that fits in the middle of two others

e.g. 30 is between 29 and 31.

Number line showing ascending and descending order with four numbersA number line from 0 to 50 with four numbers — 5, 12, 28, 41 — marked and labeled. A blue arrow pointing right shows ascending order. An orange arrow pointing left shows descending order.Ordering on the Number Line05122841smallest → largestlargest → smallestBefore, Between, After293031beforebetweenafter
A number line with four numbers marked in ascending order (blue arrow right) and descending order (orange arrow left), plus a before/between/after example with 29, 30, 31.
Strategy for ordering two-digit numbers: compare tens firstA step-by-step diagram showing how to order 47, 19, and 35 by first comparing the tens digits, then the ones digits when tens are equal.How to Order NumbersStep 1:Look at the tens digit first.47 → tens: 4 | 19 → tens: 1 | 35 → tens: 3Step 2:Order by tens: 1 < 3 < 4So the order is: 19, 35, 47Step 3:If tens are equal, compare ones.E.g. 32 vs 35: same tens → 2 < 5, so 32 < 35Answer: 19, 35, 47 ← smallest to largest ✅
A three-step strategy for ordering numbers — compare tens digits first, then ones digits when tens are equal.
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Ask yourself: "Which number is smallest? Which is largest? What comes between them?"

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← Lesson 6: Place Value — Tens and OnesLesson 8: Number Patterns →