Greater Than and Less Than Signs

Frequently asked questions

How do I remember the greater than and less than signs?

Imagine a crocodile — its mouth is always open toward the larger number. Or: the pointed end of < points to the smaller number.

How do you compare negative numbers?

Among negative numbers, the one closer to zero is greater. For example: −2 > −5, because −2 is to the right of −5 on the number line.

What does the ≥ sign mean?

≥ means "greater than or equal to". For example, x ≥ 5 means x can be 5, 6, 7... or any larger value.