Greater or Less
Part of the Numbers & Operations section of Coddy's Pre-Algebra journey. Lesson 15 of 60.
On the number line, numbers grow as you move right. So a number further right is the greater one. That makes 2 greater than -5, and it also makes -2 greater than -7, because -2 sits five steps to the right of -7.
This feels backwards at first, since 7 is bigger than 2. Think of money: owing 7 dollars leaves you worse off than owing 2 dollars, so -7 is the smaller number. The further a negative number is from zero, the smaller it is.
The signs < and > record the comparison, and the narrow end always points at the smaller number: -7 < -2 and 2 > -5.
Challenge
Which sign goes between -11 and -14: less than, equal to, or greater than? Pick it in the box.
Try it yourself
Pick the right answer
Test yourselfThis lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.
All lessons in Numbers & Operations
1Working on the Board
Your First AnswerType the Next LineOne Line at a TimeDots and BarsFriendly ProductsRecap: Board Work4Adding Integers
Adding Two NegativesDifferent SignsZero PairsAdding Several IntegersRecap: Adding Integers2Order of Operations
Multiply Before AddingLeft to RightParentheses FirstBrackets Inside BracketsThe Fraction Bar GroupsRecap: Order of Operations5Subtracting Integers
Add the OppositeSubtracting a NegativePlus and Minus in a RowDistance Between NumbersRecap: Subtracting Integers