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Greater Than

Greater than is a mathematical term used to compare two quantities and help to establish a relationship between two where one term is greater than the other term. To compare two numbers, amount or quantities, greater than, less than, and equal to terms are used. There is an individual sign for each term like greater than is represented by" >", equal is represented by " = ", and lesser than is represented by "<".

1. What is Greater Than?
2. Greater Than Sign 
3. Tips and Tricks on Greater Than
4. Greater Than Examples
5. Practice Questions
6. FAQs on Greater Than

What is Greater Than?

The term 'greater than' is used when a number is larger than the other number. Even to compare the two weights, greater than is used. For example, Joe goes to an ice-cream parlor. He loves the chocolate and vanilla flavors of the ice-creams but wanted to buy an ice cream cone which is cheaper. He asked about the prices of the chocolate cone and vanilla cone. The shopkeeper told him the prices of the two cones: The price of the chocolate cone is $10 and the price of the vanilla cone is $ 5. Then to compare the prices of the two cones, Joe must use the 'greater than' concept. As we can see the price of a chocolate cone is more than a vanilla cone. The price of the chocolate cone ($10) is greater than the price of the vanilla cone ($5), or 10 > 5. So he compares the price of both ice-creams and decided to buy a vanilla ice cream. Similarly to compare the two weights, distances, volumes, etc. greater than sign is used.

Greater Than Sign

When we compare numbers, we compare the value of numbers. There are some mathematical signs we use instead of words, to compare the numbers. Mathematical signs make the work simpler and quicker.
Greater Than Sign

Look at the above image which shows the sign. The sign is known as the greater than sign in math. This sign is used to show that one value is greater than the other value. For example, the statement "4 is greater than 2" is true. So we can write it as 4 > 2. 
Now, let's understand the greater than symbol from the left side and the right side. The open side of the sign (>) having two corners/points whereas the closing side of the sign is having only one corner/point. The wide-open side of the sign having two points always faces the bigger number or greater value number, whereas the closing endpoint of a sign faces the smaller number or lesser value number.
Note: We can represent 4 is greater than 2 like this "2 < 4", here, also the wide-open side of the sign is in front of the bigger number that is 4. As the closing endpoint is facing the smaller number 2, we can say in words 2 is lesser than 4.

Tips and Tricks on Greater Than

Following are the tips that help in the concept of greater than.

  • The words "more than", "greater than", "bigger than", and "larger than" etc. correspond to the sign >.
  • The words "minimum", "at least" and "greater than or equal to" etc. correspond to the sign " ≥ ".
  • While comparing the values keep the wide-open side of the sign in front of the greater value.

Related Articles on Greater Than

Check out the interesting topics to learn more about greater than symbol.

 

Greater Than Examples

  1. Example 1: Mushi is preparing for Annual Sports Meet in her school. On the first trial, she had a jump of 8 feet. On the second trial, she had a jump of 11 feet. On which trial she had the longest jump?

    Solution: 

    The number 11 is greater than the number 8. On the second trial, she had the longest jump and the wide-open side of the sign will be in front of 11, i.e. 11 > 8.

  2. Example 2: Compare the following by putting a Greater than sign in between the numbers.
    a) 11, 31 (b) 56, 83  (c) 47, 21

    Solution: 

    a) 31 > 11 here, 31 is greater than 11, so the wide-open side of the sign will be in front of 31.

    b) 83 > 56 here, 83 is greater than 56, so the wide-open side of the sign will be in front of 83.

    c) 47 > 21 here, 47 is greater than 21, so the wide-open side of the sign will be in front of 47.

  3. Example 3: Harry was counting students of grade III and grade IV. The number of students in grade III is 80 and in grade IV is 67. Harry wonders which grade has more students. Can you help him?

    Solution: 

    Let's compare the number of students in each grade. Here in grade III, 80 students are there, and in grade IV, 67 students are there. As 80 is greater than 67, therefore, grade III is having more students as compared to grade IV.

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FAQs on Greater Than

How to use the Greater Than Sign in Math?

While comparing the two numbers we can use greater than sign in math. For example, let's compare two-digit numbers, 32 and 17. While comparing the two-digit numbers, we first compare the digit at tens place. If the digits are the same we will compare the digits at ones place. Here the digit at tens place is 3 and 1 and 3 is greater than 1, so 32 is greater than 17.

Is 75 is Greater Than 74?

Yes, 75 is greater than 74. While comparing the two-digit numbers, we first compare the digits at tens place. If the digits are the same we will compare the digits at ones place. Here the digit at tens place is the same so we will compare the digits at ones place that is 5 and 4 and 5 is greater than 4, so 75 is greater than 74.

What is Greater Than or Equal to Sign?

Greater than or equal to sign is a mathematical symbol that is used when one value is either greater than or equal to some other value. Greater than or equal to symbol looks like " ≥ ".

What is the Difference Between Greater Than and Less than Sign?

Greater than and less than signs can be used to compare numbers. The greater than symbol is >. For example,  8 > 7 is read as '8 is greater than 7'. The less-than sign is "<". 7 < 8, 7 is less than 8.

How to Remember Greater Than Sign?

The greater sign looks like this ">". The wide-open side of the sign should be in front of the greater number, and the pointed end should be to the smaller number.

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Greater Than Less Than Worksheet