A method to compare between a first number and a second number includes the steps of storing the first number in a first row of an associative memory array, storing a two's complement representation of the second number in a second row of the associative memory array wherein bit i of the second number is stored in a same column of the associative memory array as bit i of the first number, concurrently performing a carry save operation on a plurality of columns of the associative memory array to create a sum and a carry, predicting a value of a carry out bit without adding the sum and the carry, and indicating that the first number is smaller than the second number if the value of the carry out bit is 1.