Ordering numbers to 100

How do you order numbers to 100?

When you order numbers to 100, you can arrange them from smallest to greatest or from greatest to smallest.

Look at the tens first and then the ones if you need to.

This number line goes from 0 to 100.

From left to right, the numbers increase from smallest to greatest.

From right to left, the numbers decrease from greatest to smallest.

Quiz: Ordering numbers to 100

Test out your knowledge of ordering from smallest to greatest with this quiz, then read on to complete the page.

Ordering numbers using tens and ones

Here are three numbers:

34, 19, 50

To find out which number is the smallest, you need to look at which number has the fewest tens.

Fewest means the smallest number, or the least amount. You can use this word when comparing numbers or amounts.

Here are the three numbers represented using blocks.

19 has the fewest tens, so 19 is the smallest number.

50 has the most tens, so 50 is the greatest number.

If two numbers have the same number of tens, you can use the ones to decide which number is smaller.

Let’s put them in order from smallest to greatest. You can place the 'less than' (<) symbol between the numbers.

19 < 34 < 50

Now let’s put them in order from greatest to smallest. You can place the 'greater than' symbol (>) between the numbers.

50 > 34 > 19

Ordering numbers using a number line

Here is a number line counting up in ones, from 43 to 63.

Now let's mark the numbers 52, 61 and 49 on the number line.

You can order them by finding them on a number line.

The greatest number is furthest along the number line.

61 is the furthest along the number line. It is the greatest number.

The smallest number is the least far along the number line.

49 is the least far along the number line. It is the smallest number.

Let’s order them from smallest to greatest:

49 < 52 < 61

Now let’s order them from greatest to smallest:

61 > 52 > 49

Did you notice that 52 has stayed in the middle?

Ordering numbers using a hundred square

Sometimes you might need to order four numbers. Look at these numbers:

91, 19, 63, 67

You would need a very long number line to order 91 and 19.

This is where a number square can be useful.

As well as helping you to count, a number square can also help you to order numbers.

The numbers have been highlighted on this number square.

19 has the smallest number of tens. 91 has the largest number of tens.

Therefore, the smallest number is 19 and the greatest number is 91.

Did you notice that 63 and 67 both have the same number of tens?

63 has 3 ones and 67 has 7 ones. 7 ones are greater than 3 ones.

So, 67 is greater than 63.

Let’s order these numbers from smallest to greatest:

19 < 63 < 67 < 91

Now let's order them from greatest to smallest:

91 > 67 > 63 > 19