The tens decide first: 1st grade math lesson

What this lesson shows

Fixes a mistake

59 has more ones than 61, but fewer tens. 59 < 61.

The worked example

The lesson works this one step by step: 59 ○ 61. Then your kid tries one like it on paper.

The steps

Tens first
Fewer tens is less
Ones only break a tie

Helping at home

Look at the tens first. Fewer tens means less, however many ones there are.

If your kid gets stuck

Which has more tens?

Watch it with Lux

With Lux, this lesson is a narrated video and a printed page your kid works on. Then Lux helps with the same math on their own worksheet, one question at a time.

See how Lux works

Standards

Common Core 1.NBT.B.3
Compare two two-digit numbers based on meanings of the tens and ones digits, recording the results of comparisons with the symbols >, =, and <.

Matches standards in 50 statesSee each state's code

Alabama MA19.1.12
Alaska 1.CC.3, 1.CC.5, 1.NBT.1, 1.NBT.3
Arizona 1.NBT.B.3
Arkansas 1.NPV.7
California 1.NBT.B.3
Colorado 1.NBT.B.3
Connecticut 1.NBT.B.3
Delaware 1.NBT.B.3
District of Columbia 1.NBT.B.3
Florida MA.1.NSO.1.4
Georgia 1.NR.1.3
Hawaii 1.NBT.B.3
Idaho 1.NBT.B.3
Illinois 1.NBT.B.3
Indiana 1.NS.4
Iowa 1.NBT.B.3
Kansas 1.NBT.3
Kentucky KY.1.NBT.3
Louisiana 1.NBT.B.3
Maine 1.NBT.B.3
Maryland 1.NOS.B.4, 1.NOS.B.5, 1.NOS.B.6
Massachusetts 1.NBT.B.3
Michigan 1.NBT.B.3
Minnesota 1.1.1.5, 1.1.1.6
Mississippi 1.NBT.3
Missouri 1.NBT.A.3
Montana MT.1.NBT.3
Nebraska 1.N.3.b
Nevada 1.NBT.B.3
New Hampshire 1.NBT.B.3
New Jersey 1.NBT.B.3
New Mexico 1.NBT.B.3
New York NY-1.NBT.3
North Carolina NC.1.NBT.3
North Dakota 1.NO.NBT.2
Ohio 1.NBT.3
Oklahoma 1.N.1.7, 1.N.1.8, 1.N.1.9, 2.N.1.2
Oregon 1.NBT.B.3
Pennsylvania CC.2.1.1.B.2
Rhode Island 1.NBT.B.3
South Carolina 1.NR.3.1
South Dakota 1.NBT.B.3
Tennessee 1.NBT.B.4, 1.NBT.A.2
Texas 111.3.b.2.D, 111.3.b.2.E, 111.3.b.2.F, 111.3.b.2.G
Utah 1.NBT.3
Vermont 1.NBT.B.3
Virginia 1.NS.2e, 1.NS.2f
Washington 1.NBT.B.3
West Virginia M.1.11
Wisconsin M.1.NBT.B.3

The tens decide first