I am trying to get a number from a *document.getElementById* to be read as a real number in a *if/else* statement using a comparison operator (e.g.: points < 40). Below is an example of what I'm trying to accomplish using w3school's tool to assist. 

I understand Javascript does certain things depending on the *DataTypes*, *Operators*, and *Numbers*. Below is the original code I started with, but I have tried different variations, see below with the datatype outcome commented to the right. I used arithmetic to find out what's going on with my element's id number when pulled into the variable and the best outcome is *NaN*. 

**How do I get a number within an HTML tag to be recognized by Javascript's *document.getElementById* script operators?**

```html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<span id="points">39</span> is <span id="outcome"></span>

<script>

    var points = document.getElementById("points"); // [object HTMLSpanElement]
    //var points = +document.getElementById("points"); // NaN
    //var points = parseInt(document.getElementById("points")); // NaN 
    //var points = Number(document.getElementById("points")); // NaN
    if (points < 40) {document.getElementById("outcome").innerHTML = "LESS THAN 40";}
    else {document.getElementById("outcome").innerHTML = "40 or GREATER";}

</script>

</body>
</html>
```

**EDIT:** All that was needed was a ".innerHTML" addition to my var (added before the semicolon).

**FIXED CODE BELOW:**

```html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>

<span id="points">39</span> is <span id="outcome"></span>

<script>

    var points = document.getElementById("points").innerHTML; // [object HTMLSpanElement]
    //var points = +document.getElementById("points"); // NaN
    //var points = parseInt(document.getElementById("points")); // NaN 
    //var points = Number(document.getElementById("points")); // NaN
    if (points < 40) {document.getElementById("outcome").innerHTML = "LESS THAN 40";}
    else {document.getElementById("outcome").innerHTML = "40 or GREATER";}

</script>

</body>
</html>
```