Signs of Inequality

Concept

In Mathematics, equations are not always about being balanced of both sides with an ‘equal to’ symbol. Sometimes it can be about ‘not an equal to’ relationship like something is greater than the other or less than. In mathematics, inequality refers to a relationship that makes a non-equal comparison between two numbers or other mathematical expressions. These mathematical expressions are called inequalities.

Rules

Read the number from left to right.

Use the place value chart to compare numbers.

Compare numbers using the following rules of inequality:

a) p ≠ q means that p is not equal to q

b) p < q means that p is less than q c) p > q means that p is greater than q

d) p ≤ q means that p is less than or equal to q

e) p ≥ q means that p is greater than or equal to q

Example

Compare.

81,235,467,203 _______ 81,237,487,203

Solution

Put the digits from each number under the correct place value.

Now find the first digit from the left that is different. 5 is less than 7, therefore;
81,235,467,203 < 81,237,487,203