Maya has 6 tens and 7 ones; Amir has 6 tens and 7 ones. Which symbol makes this true: 67 67?
- <
- = (correct answer)
Explanation: Whenever you compare two numbers, a great first step is to break each one into its tens and ones. This helps you see exactly how big each number is before you decide which comparison symbol fits. Look closely at what Maya and Amir have. Maya has 6 tens and 7 ones. Six tens is 6 × 10 = 60, and 7 ones is just 7, so Maya has 60 + 7 = 67. Amir also has 6 tens and 7 ones, which is also 67. Since both numbers are made from the same amount of tens and the same amount of ones, they are exactly equal. That means the "equal to" sign, =, makes the sentence true: 67 = 67. The "less than" symbol, <, would only be correct if the first number were smaller than the second, but 67 is not smaller than 67. The "greater than" symbol, >, would only work if the first number were bigger, and 67 is not bigger than 67 — they're the same. The blank fourth choice offers no symbol at all, so it can't make a true comparison sentence. A helpful trick: when both numbers have the same digits in the same spots, they must be equal, so reach for the = sign. Remember that the open mouth of < or > always "eats" the bigger number — but when the numbers match, there's nothing bigger to eat!