The signs < > =

Three little signs do all the comparing in math. Once you know them, you can answer thousands of questions.

The greater-than sign

The sign > means "is greater than". The wide end is on the left, the point is on the right.

9 > 5

Read it: "nine is greater than five". The wide opening is on the side of the bigger number.

The less-than sign

The sign < means "is less than". The wide end is on the right, the point is on the left.

4 < 11

Read it: "four is less than eleven".

The equal sign

The sign = means "is equal to". Both numbers are the same.

7 = 7

12 = 12

We say "seven equals seven".

The hungry crocodile

If the signs are tricky, here is a story. Imagine the < and > signs as a crocodile's mouth. The crocodile always wants to eat the bigger snack — so the wide-open mouth always faces the bigger number.

A small game

Cover the answer with your finger and try:

• 8 ☐ 12
• 17 ☐ 4
• 15 ☐ 15
• 20 ☐ 19
• 0 ☐ 6

Write < , > or = in each box. Answers: <, >, =, >, <.

← Introduction · Comparing numbers to 20 →