Almost everything we encounter every day requires multiple quantities to be compared with one another. In the grocery store, we might compare prices to see which store has the lowest price; while playing a game, we may determine which player scored the most points; and when eating with our friends, we may need to split the food evenly. The words “greater than”, “less than”, and “equal to” are universal terms used for comparison and decision-making about quantity, and they also serve as means for conveying understanding with respect to quantities. Therefore, we must now define each concept and indicate how it can be applied in various situations.
More: When One Group or Amount is Larger or Greater Than Another
In comparison with something else, the word more indicates that one amount or group has more people or items or is of a larger size or has a higher value than another amount or group. For instance, if you have 10 apples and your colleague has 5 apples, you own more apples than they do. Conversely, if a store sells a particular item for $20 and the other store sells the same item for $15, the former store is selling it for a higher price (i.e., the store is charging more).
More is used in a variety of contexts to signify a difference in value (i.e., comparing the relative value of something between two (or more) entities), such as:
– Shopping: By comparing prices of different items from different retailers (i.e., to determine which retailer offers the best deal).
– Sports: Determining which athlete/team scored more points than an opponent in a specific match/game.
– Cooking: The addition of various ingredients to increase the amount of food (the total quantity of the dish).
It is important to note that “more” is relative to whatever is being compared.
Less: When One Group or Amount is Smaller or Fewer Than Another
By their definition, the term greater can refer to lesser: for example, if there are three items with a total of 9 cookies split into two bags so that there are 6 in the first bag and 3 in the second bag, you cannot say that the 6 cookies in the first bag are “more than” the 3 cookies in the second bag. However, you can say that the first bag contains “more cookies” and hence is greater. The same principle applies when comparing two projects – if one project takes a total of 2 hours and the other project takes a total of 4 hours, then the project that takes 2 hours is obviously the lesser of the two projects.
Examples of other uses of the term “less”:
o Budgeting = less money saved for future use.
o Time = doing things in a quicker time frame than normal (less done).
o Health & Wellness = less consumption of sugar (to promote good health).
Same: When Two Groups or Amounts Are Equal or Exactly Alike in Number
When an object has the same amount of different things (for example), the same length, the same width or similar dimensions (for example), or when the product is sold at a price equal to the product of its selling price, we say that these objects are equal to one another.
One simple example would be if someone were going out for pizza and bought two pizzas that were cut into 8 equal-sized pieces. These were stated as two pizzas, and therefore, there were 8 equal-sized pieces of pizza. Another example is a set of four marbles owned by two separate persons and one of them owns two of these marbles.
The term ‘same’ also reinforces equality and equivalence among people who share the same object. This means each person in the group will receive an equal share of the object. As an analogy, if there are two objects that are identical in weight, then when you place both objects on the same scale they will weigh the same. Furthermore, by comparing similar types of products with similar attributes/benefits and the prices associated with those products, you can evaluate if you are getting a good deal!
Practical Examples
To explain these concepts better, below are a few examples:
Example 1 -If a person has 12 cupcakes and their friend has 8, which means the Person has more there, for they have fewer.
Example 2 – Basket A and Basket B both contain a total of 15 Apples, thus they both must contain the same number of Apples.
Example 2 – 1 L of soda contains more total liquid than the 500 mL soda bottle because the 500 mL bottle contains less than 1 L.
Applications
Count objects and compare. Write the correct math symbol more, less or equal.
