Lesson 4: Compare and Order Integers and Rational Numbers6.NOS.8

I can…

I can compare and order integers using a number line.

Key words

• Compare and Order Integers — Tell which integers are bigger. Then put them in order.
• Number line — A line with numbers in order, left to right.
• Compare — Look at two amounts. See which is more, less, or the same.
• Order — Put numbers from smallest to biggest, or the reverse.
• Greater than — The > sign. It shows one number is bigger.
• Less than — The < sign. It shows one number is smaller.
• Negative integer — A whole number less than zero, like −5.
• Integer — A whole number or its opposite, like 2 and −2.
• Inequality — A math sentence that compares sides with <, >, ≤, or ≥.

Steps

1. I will compare -7 and -5. They are both negative, so I look at the number line.
2. -7 is 7 steps left of zero. -5 is only 5 steps left of zero.
3. -7 is farther to the left, so -7 is the smaller number.
4. I write -7 < -5. The open side of the symbol points to the bigger number, -5.

Try it

Put these integers in order from LEAST to GREATEST. Which list is correct?

Check your answer

-6, -1, 0, 4, 9

-6 is the smallest (farthest left on the number line), then -1, then 0, then 4, then 9. The correct order from least to greatest is -6, -1, 0, 4, 9.

Sentence starter

I know ___ because ___.

Goal: I can explain my reasoning using the words compare, order, greater than, and less than.