Numbers help us count things. In this chapter we learn to count, write, and compare the numbers 1 to 9.
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Key Concepts
Counting: We count objects one by one. Each object gets one number. The last number we say tells us how many there are.
Number names: 1 = one, 2 = two, 3 = three, 4 = four, 5 = five, 6 = six, 7 = seven, 8 = eight, 9 = nine.
Number order: Numbers go from small to big: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
Before and after: The number just before 5 is 4. The number just after 5 is 6.
- Comparing: We use "greater than" and "less than" to compare two numbers.
- 7 is greater than 4 (7 > 4)
- 3 is less than 6 (3 < 6)
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Count the mangoes: there are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 mangoes. We write the numeral 5.
What comes after 6? Count on one step: 6, 7. So the answer is 7.
What comes before 4? Count back one step: 3, 4 — so the number before 4 is 3.
Which is greater — 8 or 5? Count: 8 comes after 5 on the number line, so 8 > 5.
Arrange in order from smallest to biggest: 7, 2, 5. Answer: 2, 5, 7.
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Common mistakes
- Always start counting from 1, not 0, when counting objects.
- Do not skip any number when writing number order.
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Summary
Numbers 1 to 9 help us count objects, write numerals, compare groups, and arrange numbers in order from smallest to greatest.