Math: less than, part2

Tutoring math, “less than” can be non-intuitive with negative numbers. The tutor mentions a way to see it.

The following is by my understanding.

I mention in yesterday’s post the idea of less than in math. It’s not always intuitive for people.

One problem with less than, to my mind, is that people relate it with “smaller than.” That idea might be intuitive for positive numbers, but for negative numbers, less so.

Less than isn’t a measure of size, but rather of position, as I mention in yesterday’s post. Perhaps another way to see it is that -10 is less than -4, because it takes +6 to move from -10 to -4.

Source:

Travers,K.J., Dalton,L.C., Brunner,V.F., Taylor,A.R. (1977). Using Advanced Algebra. Doubleday Canada Limited.

Jack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane, Campbell River, BC.