27 Ordinal Numbers

Kendall Diaz

Formal Definition

A number assigned to an ordered set that designates both the order of its elements and its cardinal number.

 

Kid Speak Definition

We use ordinal numbers to tell the ranking or position of something. It’s not hard to remember the word ordinal, because it sounds like order. While the ordinal numbers correspond (or match) the cardinal numbers 1, 2, 3, and so on. They sort of sound different. First doesn’t sound like One and Second doesn’t sound like Two. Third sounds a bit like Three, but… You get the idea. The word “second” relates to the term secondary, meaning NOT primary (or not first). It’s a little tricky, but you’ll get the hang of it.

Photo credit: https://www.splashlearn.com/math-vocabulary/number-sense/ordinal-numbers

To learn more about number lines, check out this link:

https://www.splashlearn.com/math-vocabulary/number-sense/ordinal-numbers

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