Relationship established between two numbers, two sets, two terms or two expressions.
Symbols
To compare mathematical objects based on an order relation, we usually use the symbols <, >, =, ≤ and ≥.
- The symbol < is read as “is less than”
Example : 5 < 10. - The symbol > is read as “is greater than”
Example : 10 > 5. - The symbol = is read as “is equal to”
Example : 5 = 3 + 2. - The symbol ≤ is read as “is less than or equal to”
Examples : 5 ≤ 10, x + 7 ≤ 10. - The symbol ≥ is read as “is greater than or equal to”
Examples : 10 ≥ 5, x + 7 ≥ 10.
Examples
- Here is a list of 3 numbers: 45, 46, 47. We can say that the greatest number is 47 and the least number is 45.
- Here are four sets of sheep: A (34 sheep), B (45 sheep), C (67 sheep) and D (45 sheep). The set that has the most sheep is set C. The set that has the fewest sheep is set A. There are as many sheep in set B as there are in set D.
- When we have 2 or more line segments, we can determine which is longest and which is shortest.