Step by step
The question
Question: compare 70 and 17.
Which is more?
Compare 70 and 17
1 Show the tens and ones
70 is 7 tens and 0 ones.
17 is 1 ten and 7 ones.
2 Compare the tens
Look at the tens first.
7 tens is greater than 1 ten.
So 70 is more.
7 tens > 1 ten
3 Write it with a sign
70 is greater than 17.
We write 70 > 17.
70 > 17
The sign < means less than.
The sign > means greater than.
Greater means more.
The open side faces the bigger number.
< less than
> greater than
Careful!
17 has more ones.
But the tens count more.
7 tens is more than 1 ten.
Careful: not 70 < 17 ✗
4 Check
On the number line, bigger numbers are to the right.
Yes!
It works.
70 is right of 17
Let's look back.
First: show the tens and ones.
Then: compare the tens.
Then: write it with a sign.
Last: check.
Answer
Careful: not 70 < 17 ✗