Loading Calculator...
Please wait a moment
Please wait a moment
Compare two numbers to determine if the first is greater than, less than, or equal to the second. Learn the correct comparison symbols and how to use them.
Comparison symbols help us express the relationship between two numbers. There are three main symbols used to compare numbers:
The symbol points to the smaller number. The open side faces the larger number.
The symbol points to the smaller number. The point faces the smaller number.
Used when both numbers have the same value.
Think of the symbol as an alligator mouth. The alligator always wants to eat the bigger number, so it opens its mouth toward the larger value.
The pointed end of the symbol always points to the smaller number.
The less than symbol < looks like an L when tilted. This helps you remember it means "less than."
The easiest way is to remember that the symbol always opens toward (or 'eats') the bigger number. The pointed end points to the smaller number. You can also remember that '<' looks like an 'L' for 'Less than' when tilted.
The symbol > means 'greater than' and does not include equality (5 > 4 but 5 is not > 5). The symbol ≥ means 'greater than or equal to' and includes equality (5 ≥ 5 is true, and 5 ≥ 4 is also true).
With negative numbers, the number closer to zero is greater. For example, -2 > -5 because -2 is closer to zero. Think of a number line: numbers to the right are always greater than numbers to the left.
Yes! You can compare fractions by converting them to decimals or finding a common denominator. For example, 1/2 > 1/3 because 0.5 > 0.333... Or with common denominators: 3/6 > 2/6.
When numbers are equal (=), they have exactly the same value. For example, 5 = 5, or 0.5 = 1/2, or 10/2 = 5. Equal means identical in value, even if they're written differently.
Compare decimals by looking at each place value from left to right. Start with the ones place, then tenths, then hundredths, and so on. For example, 3.45 > 3.42 because when you reach the hundredths place, 5 > 2.