Greater Than: Outside

|x| > 3 asks for the numbers more than three steps from zero, in either direction: the numbers above 3, or the numbers below -3. Two separate pieces, joined by "or":

x > 3

or

x < -3

|x| > 3: more than three steps from zero, on either side

So greater than splits into two cases: |u| > c becomes u > c or u < -c. Notice the second case: far below zero means less than -c, so the sign turns around with the minus. "Less than" gives a chain (between), "greater than" gives an "or" (outside). The picture of each makes it easy to remember which is which.