There are six symbols used to compare numbers.
Equal to is shown by = and is used when two expressions are the same, such as 3 = 2 + 1;
Not Equal To is shown by ≠ (an equal sign with a line through it), and is used when expressions are not the same: for example, 2 + 2 ≠ 3;
Less Than, <, is used to indicate the first number is worth less than the second number. An example would be 6 < 7;
The less than sign can be combined with an equal sign, ≤, which means the first number is Less than or Equal to the second number;
The Greater Than sign, >, shows that the first number is greater than the second, eg 7 > 3;
The greater than sign can also be combined with an equal sign, ≥, to mean Greater Than or Equal to.
A number line can be used to check the relationship of numbers to each other, especially when there are a mixture of positive and negative numbers, or fractions.
Indicate which value is a, and which value is b, for these two statements:
a) a < b, if the numbers are 3 and 11;
b) a ≥ b, if the numbers are -6 and 15.
a) The < symbol means less than, and 3 is less than 11.
b) The symbol ≥ is greater than or equal to, and 15 is greater than -6.
Answer: a) a=3, b=11 b) a=15, b=-6
Rewrite fourteen is greater than twelve and less than twenty using numbers and one or more of these symbols: =, <, >, ≤ or ≥ in one statement.
Arrange the numbers in order; then use the less than symbol: 12 < 14 < 20.
It can also be written as: 20 > 14 > 12, using the greater than symbol.
Answer: 12 < 14 < 20 (or 20 > 14 > 12)
See also Calculating Exactly with Fractions