> \u00a0 means greater than<\/span><\/p>\n Some examples:<\/p>\n 10 < 12<\/span><\/p>\n 20 > 8<\/span><\/p>\n Consider the number line: Both less than and greater than actually refer to placement on the number line. \u00a0“Less than” means “to the left of”, while “greater than” means “to the right of”. \u00a0Of course, 10 is greater than 5, which is written 10 > 5. \u00a0Notice that on the number line, 10 is to the right of 5.<\/p>\n Similarly, 4 is less than 7. \u00a0In math, you write 4 < 7. \u00a0Notice that on the number line, 4 is to the left of 7.<\/p>\n It follows, of course, that -10 is less than -5. \u00a0After all, on the number line, -10 is to the left of -5. \u00a0Therefore,<\/p>\n -10 < -5<\/span><\/p>\n People often have trouble with the idea that -10 < -5. \u00a0They point out that 10 seems bigger than 5, so why would -10 be less than -5?<\/p>\n The answer is that “less than” doesn’t refer to number size; it means “to the left of”. \u00a0On a number line, -10 is to the left of -5. \u00a0Therefore, -10 < -5. \u00a0Similarly, 5 being to the left of 10, we write 5 < 10.<\/p>\n The practical issues of solving and graphing inequalites will be explored in future posts:)<\/p>\n
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