Word problem: comparing large numbers
22 October 2026
When your child faces word problems about comparing large numbers, it helps to break the question into clear steps. This example shows how to find the difference between two big numbers in a real-life context.
Worked example
A football stadium holds 75,000 people. A concert stadium holds 68,500 people. How many more people can the football stadium hold than the concert stadium?
Step 1: Write down the numbers to compare: 75,000 and 68,500.
Step 2: Subtract the smaller number from the bigger number: 75,000 - 68,500.
Step 3: Work out the answer: 75,000 - 68,500 = 6,500.
The correct answer is 6,500.
After working through this, your child will recognise how to compare large numbers and find the difference. They can now try similar word problems to build confidence with numbers up to 10 million.
