What does ascending order mean?

Ascending order means smallest first, then getting bigger. For example, 12, 45, 78, 99 is in ascending order. Descending order is the opposite — biggest first.

How do you order numbers with different numbers of digits?

For whole numbers, the one with more digits is always bigger. So 999 is smaller than 1,002, because 999 has 3 digits and 1,002 has 4.

How do you use the signs?

The small end of the sign always points at the smaller number. So 3 2 means '8 is greater than 2'.

How do you order numbers on a number line?

Numbers get bigger as you move to the right, and smaller as you move to the left. Every number sits at exactly one spot on the line.

Why is -3 bigger than -8?

On the number line, -3 is closer to zero than -8. Bigger means further to the right, so -3 is bigger than -8, even though 8 is bigger than 3. Negatives flip the size rule.

Is a positive number always bigger than a negative number?

Yes. Any positive number, even a small one like 1, is bigger than any negative number, even a large-looking one like -100. Positive numbers sit to the right of zero, negatives sit to the left.

Lesson · Practice · Steps

Ordering Numbers

Put numbers in the right order. Column by column, from the left.

The six facts you need

Every ordering question uses one of these. You don't need to remember anything else.

1 · Ascending vs descendingAscending = smallest first. Descending = biggest first.

2 · Compare from the LEFTWhen digit counts match, compare column by column starting from the LEFT.

3 · More digits = biggerFor whole numbers, the one with more digits always wins.

4 · Number lineNumbers get BIGGER as you move RIGHT. Smaller as you move left.

5 · Negatives flipFor negatives, closer to zero = bigger. So −3 is bigger than −8.

6 · < and > signsThe small end of the sign always points at the smaller number: 3 < 5.

Worked example 1 - pick the smallest

From 432, 234 and 342, pick the smallest.

Read it. Pick the smallest of 432, 234, 342.
The fact. Compare column by column from the LEFT.
Hundreds column: 432 has 4, 234 has 2, 342 has 3.
2 is the smallest hundreds digit, so 234 wins.
So 234 < 342 < 432.

Answer: 234

Watch outDo NOT just look at the last digit. Start from the LEFT.

Worked example 2 - pick the largest

From 1,360, 1,063 and 1,306, pick the largest.

Read it. Pick the largest of 1,360, 1,063 and 1,306.
The fact. Same digit count ⇒ compare column by column from the LEFT.
Thousands: all 1. Same.
Hundreds: 3, 0, 3.
Two numbers tie on 3 hundreds — check tens: 6 vs 0.
1,360 wins: 6 tens beats 0 tens.
So 1,063 < 1,306 < 1,360.

Answer: 1,360

Watch outThe middle digits matter. Don’t rush past them.

Worked example 3 - different digit counts

From 82, 728 and 90, pick the smallest.

Read it. Pick the smallest of 82, 728 and 90.
The fact. For whole numbers, more digits = bigger.
728 has 3 digits.
82 and 90 have 2 digits.
Both 2-digit numbers are smaller than 728.
Between 82 and 90: 8 tens vs 9 tens. 82 wins.
So 82 < 90 < 728.

Answer: 82

Watch outDon’t be fooled by the digits. 728 starts with 7 but is bigger than 90.

Worked example 4 - pick the middle

From 503, 530 and 305, pick the middle number.

Read it. Pick the middle of 503, 530 and 305.
The fact. Order all three first — the middle one is your answer.
Hundreds: 5, 5, 3. So 305 is the smallest.
Compare 503 and 530 by tens: 0 vs 3.
530 is bigger.
So 305 < 503 < 530. Middle = 503.

Answer: 503

Watch outThe middle number is NOT always the one with a middle first digit.

Worked example 5 - which is bigger

Which is bigger, 5,432 or 5,423?

Read it. Pick the bigger of 5,432 and 5,423.
The fact. Line them up and compare column by column from the LEFT.
Thousands: 5 = 5. Same.
Hundreds: 4 = 4. Same.
Tens: 3 vs 2. 3 is bigger.
So 5,432 > 5,423.

Answer: 5,432

Watch outDo NOT just look at the last digit. The columns matter in order.

Worked example 6 - read a number line

What number is at the highlighted point on the line?

Read it. Find the number at the highlighted point.
The fact. Ticks are labelled. Count from the leftmost value.
The line goes from 0 to 10.
Ticks: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
The highlighted point is at the 8th tick from the left.
That tick is at 7.

Answer: 7

Watch outThe first tick is 0, not 1. So the 8th tick is at 7.

Worked example 7 - which negative is bigger

Which is bigger, −3 or −8?

Read it. Pick the bigger of −3 and −8.
The fact. For negatives, closer to zero = bigger.
−8 is 8 steps left of zero.
−3 is 3 steps left of zero.
−3 is closer to zero, so −3 > −8.

Answer: −3

Watch outA common mistake: thinking −8 is bigger because ‘8 > 3’. It flips for negatives.

Worked example 8 - order three negatives

From −3, −8 and −1, pick the smallest.

Read it. Pick the smallest of −3, −8, −1.
The fact. Smallest means furthest LEFT on the number line.
On the line: −8 (far left), −3 (middle), −1 (nearest zero).
Furthest left = smallest.
So −8 < −3 < −1.

Answer: −8

Watch outThe number with the biggest ‘size’ (like 8) can actually be the smallest, if it’s negative.

Ready for more? 100 questions

When you have done these 12, you are ready for the bigger practice paper.

It has 100 questions. They start very easy and get harder near the end. Every question is still Grade 1 — nothing harder. You can stop at any time and come back.

Open the 100-question paper →

It opens in this same place. The lesson stays open behind it.