Ordering Numbers
means to arrange them from least to greatest or
from greatest to least.

You can also use these symbols
          > (greater than)       < (less than)        = (equal to)

 between numbers to show order from
           least to greatest       or
 greatest to least.
 

If comparing two 3-digit numbers, put them in order by the first digit
--the digit in the hundred's place.

439        625

Since         4  <  6

           Then...      439  <  625

Sometimes the first digit is the same.

435         425

When this happens, look at the next digit (the ten's place).

435         425

Since        3   >  2

          Then...      435   >  425

But, what if the first two digits are the same?

439         438

      Look at the digit in the one's place.

Since           9  >  8

        Then...       439  > 438

Let's look at putting 3 numbers in order.

 469, 649, and 964 are in order from the least to the greatest. 

 469  <  649   <  964

964, 649 and 469 are in order from greatest to least.

964   >   649   >   469