Comparison of Three-digit Numbers

What are the rules for the comparison of three-digit numbers?

(i) The numbers having less than three digits are always smaller than the numbers having three digits as:

100 > 99 , 100 > 9 or 9 < 100 , 99 < 100

125 > 75 , 327 > 59 , 107 > 8 , etc.

(ii) If both the numbers have the same numbers (three) of digits, then the digits on the extreme left are compared.

(a) If the third digit from the right (Hundred-place digit) of a number is greater than the third digit from the right (Hundred-place digit) of the other number then the number having the greater third digit from the right, is the greater one.

Thus, the number having the greater digit to its extreme left, is the greater one,

as:

913 > 899 , 749 > 698 , 576 > 425

(b) If the numbers have the same third digits from the right, then the digits at ten’s place are compared and rules to compare two-digit numbers are considered.

958 > 949 , 876 > 867 , 564 > 559

If digits at Hundred-place and ten’s place are equal, the rules to compare single digit numbers are considered.

958 > 956 , 876 > 875 , 634 > 630


How to arrange 3-digit numbers in ascending and descending order:

(i) Arranging the numbers 237, 185, 271, 146, 329 in ascending order:

The numbers are arranged in ascending order 146, 185, 237, 271, 329.

(ii) Arranging the numbers 204, 318, 432, 155, 296 in descending order:

The numbers are arranged in descending order 432, 318, 296, 204, 155.

(iii) Arranging the numbers 471, 295, 311, 163, 239 in ascending order:

The numbers are arranged in ascending order 163, 239, 295, 311, 471.

(iv) Arranging the numbers 374, 198, 282, 351, 461 in descending order:

The numbers are arranged in descending order 461, 374, 351, 282, 198.

Thus, any four-digit number is always greater than a three-digit number.

1000 > 999 , 2000 > 700 , 3150 > 550 , etc.



● Numbers are compared from left to right.

● If the digits are equal at a place then compare the right digit at the next place.

Comparing and Arranging Numbers


I. Write the correct sign (>, < or =)

(i) 807 ............ 721

(ii) 87 ............ 40

(iii) 597 ............ 848

(iv) 927 ............ 498

(v) 759 ............ 216

(vi) 357 ............ 589

(vii) 444 ............ 444

(viii) 888 ............ 777

(ix) 256 ............ 572

(x) 201 ............ 602

(xi) 346 ............ 346

(xii) 652 ............ 352


II. Write in ascending order:

(i) 50,     20,          10,          40,          70,          60

(ii) 24,    18,          78,          64,          83,          55

(iii) 782,    364,    598,        528,        610,        798

(iv) 368,    316,    552,        225,        749,        493

(v) 537,     400,    163,        662,        225,        897


III. Write in descending order:

(i) 221,  631, 170, 492, 538, 113

(ii) 442, 113, 262, 552, 749, 821

(iii) 105, 90, 172, 450, 552, 339

(iv) 90, 420, 117, 768, 688, 180

(v) 172, 450, 680, 351, 536, 223

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