Max Maths, Year 5, Learn together, Comparing and ordering numbers within 1000000 (2)

In the Max Maths Year 5 curriculum, students are learning how to compare and order numbers up to one million. An exercise from the 'Learn together' section illustrates the process of identifying the smaller of two given numbers. The example provided shows two numbers: 373,900 and 378,436. Students are instructed to begin the comparison by looking at the highest value place, which is the hundred thousands place. Both numbers have a '3' in the hundred thousands column, so they are equal at this point. The next step is to compare the ten thousands place, where both numbers again have the same digit, '7'. The comparison continues to the thousands place, where the first number has '3' thousands and the second has '8' thousands. Since 3 thousands is less than 8 thousands, it is determined that 373,900 is the smaller number, which is expressed as 373,900 < 378,436 using the 'less than' symbol '<'.

If the thousands place were also the same, the next step would be to compare the hundreds place. This systematic approach to comparison continues through tens and ones if necessary. The symbols '>' and '<' are used to indicate 'more than' and 'less than', respectively. This methodical process helps students understand the value of each digit based on its place and how to compare large numbers in a structured way. By moving from the highest to the lowest place value, students can accurately determine the relative sizes of numbers within one million.