Topics
12. Measurement
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AustraliaNSW
Stage 2

12.09 Order and compare volumes

Lesson
Practice
Lesson

Are you ready?

Remembering how to  order numbers  can help us in this lesson.

Examples

Example 1

Order these numbers from smallest to largest.

a

92, \, 22, \, 29

Worked Solution
Create a strategy

We should order the tens first, then the ones.

Apply the idea

The numbers in the place value table are shown:

TensOnes
92
22
29

22 and 29 have the same smallest tens digit, so they are smaller than 92.

But 22 has the smaller ones digit, so 22 is smaller than 29.

The numbers from smallest to largest are: 22,\,29,\, 92

b

516, \, 156, \, 561

Worked Solution
Create a strategy

We should order the hundreds first, then the tens, then the ones.

Apply the idea

The numbers in the place value table are shown:

HundredsTensOnes
516
156
561

156 has the smallest hundreds digit so it is the smallest number.

516 and 561 have equal hundreds digits, but 516 has the smaller tens digit.

The numbers from smallest to largest are: 156,\,516,\, 561

Idea summary

When we use place value to order numbers, always start with the far left digit which has the highest place value.

Compare volume

This video looks at being able to compare the volume (space inside something).

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Examples

Example 2

Order these containers from smallest to largest in volume.

This image shows three containers A, B and C that contain 55, 71 and 44 marbles on order.
Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Compare the number of marbles each container holds.

Apply the idea

The place value table shows the number of marbles in each container:

TensOnes
Container A55
Container B71
Container C44

We can see that 44 is the smallest volume since it has the smallest Tens value. 55 is the second smallest, and the largest volume is 71.

The containers from smallest to largest are: Container C, Container A, Container B.

Idea summary

The volume of an object is a measure of how much space is inside it.

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