What is the Difference Between Cardinal Numbers and Ordinal Numbers?

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The difference between cardinal and ordinal numbers lies in their purpose and meaning:

  • Cardinal numbers are used for counting and indicate the amount of something, such as one, two, three, four, and five. They are also used to answer questions like "How many?". For example, "I have three books."
  • Ordinal numbers are used to show the position or rank of something in a list or order, such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th. They are also used to establish an order or hierarchy. For example, "Our team finished second in the competition."

In summary, cardinal numbers are used for counting and indicate the quantity of something, while ordinal numbers show the position or rank of something in a list or order.

Comparative Table: Cardinal Numbers vs Ordinal Numbers

Cardinal and ordinal numbers are two types of numbers used for different purposes. Here is a table highlighting the differences between them:

Feature Cardinal Numbers Ordinal Numbers
Purpose Used for counting and measuring the size of sets Used for indicating the position in an ordered sequence and giving order within a sequence
Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, … (1st, 2nd, 3rd, …) 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, …

Cardinal numbers are used for counting objects or measuring the size of sets, while ordinal numbers are used to indicate the position of an object within an ordered sequence. For example, in a race, the cardinal number 5 could be used to indicate the number of competitors, while the ordinal number 2nd could be used to describe the position of a specific competitor.