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CBSE Class 3 Mathematics★ 3-4 marks through school tests, activities, notebook work, and competency questions in CBSE Class 3 Mathematics (Maths Mela)

House of Hundreds – II

A CBSE Class 3 Mathematics (Maths Mela) chapter that builds on place value to compare and order three-digit numbers. Children use greater than, less than, and equal to; find before, after, and between; and arrange numbers from smallest to largest. These notes give core ideas, worked examples, an activity, common mistakes, a practice set with answers, and quick revision.

⏱ 16 min readEasy difficulty✓ Free · NCERT-aligned

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By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

1Compare three-digit numbers using place value
2Use the symbols >, <, and = correctly
3Find the number before, after, and between
4Arrange numbers in ascending and descending order
5Make the greatest and smallest number from given digits

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Why this chapter matters

House of Hundreds – II uses place value to compare and order three-digit numbers. Children learn the symbols greater than, less than, and equal to; find before, after, and between; and arrange numbers in ascending and descending order.

Before you start — revise these

A 5-minute refresher here will save you 30 minutes of confusion below.

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Place value of three-digit numbers

Knowing hundreds, tens, and ones from House of Hundreds – I.

House of Hundreds – II — Class 3 Mathematics (CBSE)

From the current NCERT Maths Mela Grade 3 book, Chapter 9. We use place value to compare numbers, put them in order, and find which is greatest and smallest.

1. Why this chapter matters

Once we can build numbers, the next skill is to compare and order them — to know which is bigger, which comes next, and how to arrange a list. This is used in scores, prices, ranks, and measurements every day.

2. Core ideas

Idea 1 — Compare using place value

Compare the hundreds first. If equal, compare tens, then ones.

Method 2 — Use the symbols >, <, =

234 < 243 (less than), 243 > 234 (greater than), 150 = 150 (equal to).

Skill 3 — Order numbers

Ascending = smallest to largest; descending = largest to smallest. Find before, after, and between.

3. Worked examples

Example 1: Compare 234 and 243.

Both have 2 hundreds. Tens: 3 vs 4 → 234 < 243.

Example 2: Arrange in ascending order: 324, 234, 243.

Smallest to largest: 234, 243, 324.

Example 3: What comes just after 199? Just before 300?

After 199 is 200; before 300 is 299.

4. Activity corner

Write any three three-digit numbers on cards. Put them in order from smallest to largest, and then largest to smallest. Write:

The numbers I chose
The order (ascending and descending)
The maths idea (comparing by hundreds, tens, ones)

5. Common mistakes

Mistake: Saying a number with more digits is always bigger — true only for different digit-counts; for same length compare place by place. Fix: For three-digit numbers, compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
Mistake: Mixing up > and <. Fix: The open side faces the bigger number (243 > 234).
Mistake: Confusing ascending and descending. Fix: Ascending climbs up (small → big); descending goes down (big → small).

6. How to write better answers

Compare hundreds, then tens, then ones.
Use >, <, or = correctly.
For ordering, decide ascending or descending first.
Write the final ordered list clearly.

7. Practice set

Put the correct sign: 405 ☐ 450.
Which is the greatest: 312, 321, 231?
Arrange in descending order: 178, 187, 168.
What comes just after 259?
Write a number between 340 and 360.
Make the greatest three-digit number using 5, 2, 8.

8. Answer key

405 < 450 (tens: 0 < 5).
321 is the greatest.
Descending: 187, 178, 168.
Just after 259 is 260.
Any number such as 350 (between 340 and 360).
Greatest using 5, 2, 8 is 852.

9. Quick revision

Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
Use >, <, = ; the open side faces the bigger number.
Ascending = smallest to largest; descending = largest to smallest.
Find before, after, and between.
Arrange digits carefully to make the greatest or smallest number.

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Core idea

Compare hundreds first; if equal, compare tens, then ones.

Place value decides which number is greater.

Math move

Use >, <, = ; the open side of the sign faces the bigger number.

234 < 243 and 243 > 234.

Exam habit

Ascending = smallest to largest; descending = largest to smallest.

Find before, after, and between as well.

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Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT

✗ Assuming a number is bigger just because it looks long

✓ For three-digit numbers, compare hundreds, then tens, then ones.

WATCH OUT

✗ Mixing up the > and < signs

✓ The open side of the sign faces the bigger number (243 > 234).

WATCH OUT

✗ Confusing ascending and descending order

✓ Ascending climbs up (small to big); descending goes down (big to small).

NCERT exercises (with solutions)

Every NCERT exercise from this chapter — what it covers and how many questions to expect.

Read, observe, and discuss

Use number cards and a number line from the textbook to compare and order numbers before writing answers.

Questions

Notebook practice

Placing >, <, =, ordering numbers, and finding before, after, and between.

Questions

Project or activity

Make number cards and arrange them in ascending and descending order.

Questions

Practice problems

Try each one yourself before tapping "Show solution". Active recall > rereading.

Q1EASY· Compare

Put the correct sign: 405 ? 450.

▶ Show solution

405 < 450 (tens: 0 < 5).

Q2EASY· Order

Which is the greatest: 312, 321, 231?

▶ Show solution

321.

Q3MEDIUM· Order

Arrange in descending order: 178, 187, 168.

▶ Show solution

187, 178, 168.

Q4EASY· Sequence

What comes just after 259?

▶ Show solution

260.

Q5MEDIUM· Between

Write a number between 340 and 360.

▶ Show solution

Any number such as 350.

Q6HARD· Make numbers

Make the greatest three-digit number using 5, 2, and 8.

▶ Show solution

852 (largest digit in the hundreds place, then tens, then ones).

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

•House of Hundreds – II is Chapter 9 of the Class 3 Maths Mela textbook.
•Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
•Use >, <, = ; the open side faces the bigger number.
•Ascending = smallest to largest; descending = largest to smallest.
•Find before, after, and between.
•Arrange digits carefully to make the greatest or smallest number.

CBSE marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 3-4 marks in school tests, oral checks, notebooks, and activities

Question type	Marks each	Typical count	What it tests
Very Short	1	2-3	Comparing two numbers, before/after, or greatest of three
Short Answer	2	1-2	Ordering numbers or finding a number between
Activity / Project	3	0-1	Making and ordering number cards

Prep strategy

Compare numbers place by place
Practise the > and < signs
Order lists in ascending and descending order
Make greatest and smallest numbers from digits

Where this shows up in the real world

This chapter isn't just an exam topic — it lives in the world around you.

Ranking and scores

Comparing and ordering numbers helps read scores, ranks, and prices.

Sorting information

Arranging numbers in order is used in lists, charts, and records.

Everyday decisions

Knowing which amount is greater helps when shopping or measuring.

Exam strategy

Battle-tested tips from teachers and toppers for this chapter.

Underline the command word: compare, order, greatest, or between
Compare digit by digit from hundreds to ones
Use the correct > or < sign
Re-read the order asked (ascending or descending)

Going beyond the textbook

For olympiad aspirants and curious learners — topics that build on this chapter.

Make the greatest and the smallest three-digit numbers using 0, 6, and 9.
Write all three-digit numbers that lie between 198 and 203.

Where else this chapter is tested

CBSE board isn't the only one — other exams test this chapter too.

CBSE Class 3 School AssessmentHigh

Class 3 Foundation / Olympiad PracticeMedium

Notebook and Activity EvaluationHigh

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Questions students ask

The real ones — pulled from the Q&A community and tutor sessions.

Compare the hundreds digit first. If they are equal, compare the tens, and then the ones.

Ascending order goes from smallest to largest, and descending order goes from largest to smallest.

Practice more, ask doubts, find a tutor

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