Greater Than Sign – Definition with Examples

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Introduction

Inequality between two values, quantities, or numbers, where one is more than the others is what we mean by greater than in Math. In other words, when A is more in comparison to B, we express it as A is greater than B.

What Is the Symbol of Greater Than?

The symbol of greater than is ‘>’. Let us understand greater than sign with examples given below:

Comparison of apples using greater than sign

The symbol looks like an alligator’s mouth open in front of the bigger number or quantity. 

Alligator method to understand the comparison signs

The alligator method is the best way to help young learners retain the usage of the more than sign. To enable them to have a firm grip over the concept, parents and teachers can indulge in fun activities like creating its symbol in an alligator’s mouth and have kids place them between two quantities shown to them.

Another concept used in this regard is less-than. Less than also compares two values, quantities, or numbers. The difference is that here, one is less than the other. As per the above example, where A is more than B, we can also say that B is less than A. The symbol of less than is <. 

Let us take part in a short activity to understand the greater than and less than signs

Step 1: Create a mouth with your left and right hands, as shown below. 

Usage of hands to create comparison symbols

Step 2: Observe one hand at a time.

The right hand creates a greater-than sign while the left hand creates a less-than sign. If you ever get confused, remember that your right hand is the greater-than alligator, and your left hand is the less-than alligator.

For example, the teacher displays a big box of candies on one side, a handful on the other, and then asks a student to place the greater-than sign between the two displayed quantities. Participating in such activities can interest your ward more than mundane worksheets, facilitating better learning.

Parents and guardians can come up with other such activities to interest their young learners and help them grasp concepts better. Using everyday objects to compare their quantities is also a great way to impart the basics of the concept of greater and less.

Difference Between Greater Than and Greater Than or Equal To 

Difference between greater than and greater than or equal to
Comparison signs on Number Line

Solved Examples

Let us look at some of these solved examples to understand them better.

Example 1: Use the correct sign (< , >) in the following.

i.

Compare Groups using correct symbol

Solution: <

< is the correct sign because 5 is greater than 4, and the open mouth faces the bigger number. Thus, the open mouth faces the side with 5 stars, and the closed end faces the smaller number.

ii.

Compare Groups using correct sign

Solution: >

> is the correct sign because 6 is greater than 5, and the open mouth faces the bigger number. Thus, the open mouth of the symbol faces the 6 pairs of cherries, which is greater than the side with 5 pairs of cherries.

iii.

Compare Groups using correct comparison symbol

Solution: <

< is the correct sign because 8 is greater than 6 and the open mouth of the symbol faces the side with the bigger number. Thus, the open mouth faces the side with 8 suns since the other side has fewer suns.

Example 2: Use the correct sign (< , >) in the following.

Compare Objects using correct symbol

Solution: <

< is the correct sign because 6 is greater than 4 and the open mouth of the symbol faces the bigger number. Thus, the open mouth faces the side with 6 lollipops since the other side has fewer lollipops. 

Example 3: Draw the alligator’s mouth facing the bigger number.

     i.

Compare Numbers using correct symbol

ii.

Compare Numbers using correct sign

Solution:

i. >

ii. <

Since the mouth of the alligator opens toward the bigger number, the answer to (i) is > because 15 is > 11, and the answer to (ii) is < because 64 is greater than 46.

Practice Problems

It is brainstorm o’clock, Junior!

Greater Than - Definition with Examples

Attend this Quiz & Test your knowledge.

1

Choose the correct sign:

Greater Than Sign &#8211; Definition with Examples
$>$
$\lt$
$=$
None of the above
CorrectIncorrect
Correct answer is: $>$
> is the correct sign because 7 is greater than 6 and the open mouth of the symbol faces the bigger number. Thus, the open mouth faces the side with 7 umbrellas since the other side has fewer umbrellas.
2

Choose the correct sign:

Greater Than Sign &#8211; Definition with Examples
$\lt$
$\gt$
=
None of the above
CorrectIncorrect
Correct answer is: $\lt$
$\lt$ is the correct sign because 4 is greater than 3 and the open mouth of the symbol faces the bigger number. Thus, the open mouth faces the side with 4 ice creams since the other side has fewer ice creams.
3

Draw the alligator mouth correctly.

Greater Than Sign &#8211; Definition with Examples
$\lt$
$\gt$
None of the above
=
CorrectIncorrect
Correct answer is: $\lt$
81 is less than 89
4

Draw the alligator mouth correctly.

Greater Than Sign &#8211; Definition with Examples
$\lt$
$\gt$
None of the above
=
CorrectIncorrect
Correct answer is: $\gt$
50 is greater than 49
5

Draw the alligator mouth correctly.

Greater Than Sign &#8211; Definition with Examples
$\lt$
$\gt$
None of the above
=
CorrectIncorrect
Correct answer is: $\lt$
The mouth of the alligator opens towards the bigger number.
Thus, it opens towards 89 since 89 $\gt$ 81; it opens towards 50 since 50 $\gt$ 49; it opens towards 24 since 24 $\gt$ 18.
6

Is the following true?

Greater Than Sign &#8211; Definition with Examples
Yes
No
CorrectIncorrect
Correct answer is: No
The above is not true because the open mouth of the sign faces 19, which is not the bigger number.
Since 42 $>$ 19, the open mouth should face 42.

Frequently Asked Questions

The greater-than sign is often compared to an alligator’s mouth as it resembles and makes the learning process fun. This alligator always faces the mouth wide open towards the greater number.

Greater than means that the variable or number is more than the given limit. On the other hand, greater than or equal to states that the number or variable is either equal to or more than the given limit. The greater-than symbol is represented as >, whereas the greater than or equal to sign is represented as ≥.

The less-than sign is the opposite of the greater-than sign and is denoted by the symbol <. In the case of less than, the closed end of the symbol faces a smaller number. For example, 18 < 21 expressed as 18 is less than 21.