Whereas the idea is simple, if you happen to’re not used to the better than and fewer than symbols, it may be difficult to recall which one means which. Luckily, there are some easy, easy-to-remember tips that may assist determine which symbols matches in a given context.
1. The Alligator Technique
This trick has a pleasant visible element. In case you consider the better than or lower than symbols because the open mouth of an alligator, you may think about that the alligator’s mouth goes to be open in direction of the larger quantity, as if it is about to eat the better worth. Take the next instance:
Right here, the alligator mouth is open extensive in direction of the second quantity, clearly indicating that 83 is bigger than 41.
2. The L Technique
In case you rotate the lower than image barely, you get a capital letter “L.” This makes the interpretation into spoken English very straightforward, because it tells you the way to learn the inequality.
This instance may be learn as “15 is lower than 33.” In case you take a look at the lower than signal as a tilted or squashed L, you may see how the sentence should learn. The second quantity is the better quantity, and the primary quantity is has the smaller worth.
3. The Crescendo Technique
This methodology is for the musically inclined. You’ll have seen that the better than and fewer than symbols resemble the decrescendo and crescendo symbols you may discover on sheet music.
In math, the image widens towards the bigger worth, simply because the (de)crescendo symbols widen towards the louder quantity.
This instance may be learn as “612 is lower than 680.” In case you take a look at the lower than signal as you’ll in music, you keep in mind that the arrow on this course means the quantity will develop louder — or on this case, it would develop bigger, in direction of the larger quantity.
