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Comparing objects

When comparing the mass of objects, we use these words:

  • heavier and heaviest
  • lighter and lightest
Two boys sitting at a kitchen table working out a maths problem together.
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A boy pointing to a bubble with the words top tip.

Top tip

Remember an object can be heavier than something else, even if it looks smaller.

The mass of two objects might be equal to each other, too.

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Using symbols

We can use the symbols for more than and less than to compare the mass of objects.

The symbol > means 'more than'.

The symbol < means 'less than'.

The symbol = means 'equal to' or 'the same'.

An apple is more than a flower
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Comparing objects

Use the words heavier and lighter to compare the objects.

Here are some examples:

Pencil is lighter than the shoe on a balance scale.

The pencil is lighter than the shoe.

This is the same as writing:

The pencil < the shoe.

Ball is heavier than the flower on a balance scale.

The ball is heavier than the flower.

This is the same as writing:

The ball is > the flower.

The ball is equal to the apple on the balance scale.

The apple is equal to the ball.

This is the same as writing:

The apple is = to the ball.

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Activity 1

Find pairs of objects around you to compare and work out which is the lighter of the two and which is the heavier.

Hold one object in each hand and stretch your arms out to the side, so you are standing like a balance scale. Now compare the weights of the objects and decide which is heavier.

Can you find two objects that are equal to each other in weight?

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Activity 2

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Karate Cats Maths game. game

Train with the Karate Cats to become an expert in addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, place value and more!

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More on Measuring

Find out more by working through a topic