Compare 81 and 18

Step by step

The question

Question: compare 81 and 18.

Which is more?

1 Show the tens and ones

81 is 8 tens and 1 one.

18 is 1 ten and 8 ones.

2 Compare the tens

Look at the tens first.

8 tens is greater than 1 ten.

So 81 is more.

3 Write it with a sign

81 is greater than 18.

We write 81 > 18.

The sign < means less than.

The sign > means greater than.

Greater means more.

The open side faces the bigger number.

Careful!

18 has more ones.

But the tens count more.

8 tens is more than 1 ten.

4 Check

On the number line, bigger numbers are to the right.

Yes!

It works.

Let's look back.

First: show the tens and ones.

Then: compare the tens.

Then: write it with a sign.

Last: check.