What are Greater than and Less than Symbols?

1. They are signs we use in math to compare two values.
2. The greater than symbol (>) means that the first value is bigger than the second one. The less than symbol (<) means that the first value is smaller than the second one.
3. These symbols make it easier to understand and save time when comparing numbers.

What is Greater than Sign?

1. The symbol “>” is called the greater than sign, and it shows that the value on the left side is bigger than the value on the right side.
2. The symbol looks like two lines that are the same length and meet at a point on the right side.
3. For instance, if we see 9>1, we know that 9 is greater than 1 because 9 is on the left side of the sign and 1 is on the right side.

What is Less than Sign?

1. The "less than" sign is a symbol that we use in math to compare two numbers. It looks like two lines that are pointing towards each other, and the number on the left side is always smaller than the one on the right side.
2. You can remember this symbol easily by thinking of two lines having a race to see who can be smaller!
3. For instance, 3 < 5 means that 3 is less than 5, and the symbol helps us quickly understand that relationship.

What is Equal to?

1. We use the symbol “=” to show that two values are the same.
2. It helps us see if things are equal or not.
3. When we write math problems, we use the equal to symbol to make sure both sides are the same.

How to Compare Numbers?

When we compare numbers, we usually talk about how big or small they are. For example, we can say that 12 is bigger than 9, and 4 is smaller than 10.

Instead of using words, we can use special signs to show these comparisons. The sign that looks like an arrow pointing to the right (>) means "greater than," so we write 12 > 9. The sign that looks like an arrow pointing to the left (<) means "less than," so we write 4 < 10. These signs make it easy to see which number is bigger or smaller.

Here are three ways to better remember these rules:

• Number Competitions Using Points

The symbols that show who's the boss in numbers are like secret codes.

1. Superhero Symbol (>)

The first one looks like a superhero with two points on the left and one point on the right. It means "greater than," as if saying, "I'm bigger and better!" Remember, it's like the boss.

2. Runner Symbol (<)

The second symbol looks like a little runner, with one point on the left and two points on the right. It means "less than," as if saying, "I'm smaller and not as strong!" Remember, it's like the underdog.

So, when you see the superhero symbol (>) it means greater than, and when you see the runner symbol (<) it means less than. They're our secret codes to compare numbers!

• Alligator Method

Let's dive into a fun and famous way to compare numbers, known as the crocodile or alligator method!

Imagine that the symbol < is a sneaky crocodile and the numbers on both sides are tasty fishes. Now, our hungry crocodile always wants to munch on the bigger fish, so its mouth opens towards the greater number. For example: 9 > 2. The crocodile's mouth opens towards the number 9, showing us that 9 is greater than 2.

So, whenever you see the crocodile mouth opening towards a number, it means that number is bigger. Time to feed the crocodile with some math fun!

• L Method

Let's uncover a clever trick to remember how the less than sign looks! Have you noticed that the symbol "<" resembles the letter "L"? It's like a secret code! The reason is super simple: "less than" starts with the letter "L." So, whenever you see the symbol "<", just think of it as a sneaky L hiding in there. It's an easy way to remember the symbol and have some math fun!