How to Remember the Greater Than Symbol Easily?
The concept of Greater Than Symbol plays a key role in mathematics and is widely applicable to both real-life situations and exam scenarios. This symbol helps us compare quantities, numbers, and expressions, making it foundational in arithmetic, algebra, data handling, and logical reasoning. Understanding the greater than sign ensures you avoid mistakes when solving maths problems, especially in competitive and school exams.
What Is Greater Than Symbol?
The greater than symbol—written as “>”—is a mathematical comparison sign that shows one value is bigger than another. When you see an inequality like 8 > 3, it means “8 is greater than 3.” This symbol appears across number comparison, algebraic inequalities, data analysis, and logical statements.
You’ll find this concept applied in areas such as comparing numbers, using inequality markers in algebra, and analyzing data sets in statistics.
Definition and Visual Form
The greater than sign is a simple symbol that points to the right. It looks like an open mouth facing the bigger number. Pronounce it as “is greater than.” Here’s how it looks in an equation:
7 > 5
(Read as: seven is greater than five.)
Where Is Greater Than Symbol Used?
The greater than symbol is used in multiple places in mathematics:
- Comparing two numbers or quantities (e.g., 12 > 8).
- Mathematical inequalities and equations (e.g., x > 4).
- Data analysis—comparing marks, scores, ages, prices, distance, or weights.
- Computer Science and Excel formulas for logic and filtering.
How to Remember Greater Than Symbol?
Many students confuse the “greater than” (>) and “less than” (<) symbols. Here are some fun memory tricks:
- Alligator/Crocodile Mouth Trick: Imagine the symbol as an alligator’s mouth. The mouth always opens toward the bigger number because the alligator wants to “eat” the greater value.
- Open end faces larger number: The wider/open side points to the larger number; the sharper/pointy side faces the smaller number.
Example using the trick:
3 > 2 (the mouth opens to 3, which is larger)
Table: Comparison Symbols in Maths
| Symbol | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| > | Greater Than | 6 > 4 |
| < | Less Than | 3 < 8 |
| = | Equal To | 5 = 5 |
| ≥ | Greater Than or Equal To | x ≥ 2 |
| ≤ | Less Than or Equal To | x ≤ 10 |
How to Use Greater Than Symbol: Step-by-Step
- Write the numbers you want to compare, e.g., 15 and 9.Question: Which number is greater?
- Place the “greater than” (>) symbol between them, pointing towards the smaller number.Answer: 15 > 9
- Read it out: “15 is greater than 9.”
You can use this in equations, logic statements, and word problems.
Practical Example Questions Using Greater Than Symbol
- Compare 47 and 100.Answer: 100 > 47
- Write x is greater than 25.Answer: x > 25
- Which is greater: -4 or -7?Answer: -4 > -7 (since -4 is less negative)
Shortcut: Typing Greater Than Symbol Digitally
Typing the greater than symbol is easy on most devices:
- Keyboard (Windows/Mac): Press Shift + . (period) to get “>”
- Mobile: Switch to the numbers/symbols keyboard and tap “>”
- Excel: Use =A1>10 to compare values in formulas.
- LaTeX: Type \> in math mode.
- Copy-Paste: You can always copy “>” and paste it.
This is handy for typing equations or logic statements in digital assignments, programming, and exam portals.
Solved Word Problem Example
Question: Priya has 65 marks in Science and 52 in English. Use the greater than symbol to show the comparison.
1. Write the numbers: 65 and 522. Compare: 65 > 52
3. Conclusion: Priya scored more marks in Science than English.
Algebra Example: Which values of x make this statement true—x > 10?
1. Any value of x greater than 10 will satisfy the inequality.2. For example, x = 11, 50, 1000, etc.
3. If x = 7 (which is less than 10), the statement is false.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Wrong direction: Don’t accidentally write the symbol backward.
- Mixing up “greater than” (>) and “less than” (<).
- Forgetting to use the correct symbol with negatives and decimals.
- Confusing “>” (strictly greater) with “≥” (greater than or equal to).
Always double-check: which number is bigger? The open mouth should face it!
Relation to Less Than and Other Comparison Symbols
The greater than symbol is closely related to the less than symbol (<), which points to the smaller number, and the greater than or equal to symbol (≥), used for inclusive comparisons. Mastering these helps you solve inequalities and understand topics like algebra and data interpretation better. For more detail on all maths symbols, check Maths Symbols List and Inequality Symbols.
Real-Life Applications of Greater Than (>)
- Comparing marks, heights, or ages of students
- Bank account balances
- Which team has more points in a tournament
- Programming logic: if x > 100, then do something
- Filtering values in Excel: >500
Learning the greater than symbol prepares you for using maths in day-to-day reasoning and decision-making.
Try These Yourself
- Fill in the blank with > or <: 34 ___ 18
- Write “b is greater than 20” as a maths sentence.
- Which is greater: -3 or -5?
- In an exam, 40 students scored more than 80%. How do you write this using >?
Classroom Tip: Easy Mnemonic
Remember “the hungry mouth always eats the larger number!” Teachers at Vedantu often use this alligator/crocodile story in live classrooms to help you recall the symbol, especially during quick-fire tests and quizzes.
Wrapping It All Up
We explored the greater than symbol: what it means, how to use it, fun tricks to remember, common pitfalls, and its practical importance in exams and daily life. Mastering this basic maths symbol will help every student ace questions on comparison, inequalities, and logical reasoning. For more tricks and practice, try live classes and online resources at Vedantu!
Continue learning by visiting these related topics:
FAQs on Greater Than Symbol: Meaning, Examples, and Shortcuts
1. What is the greater than symbol in maths?
The greater than symbol, represented as >, is a mathematical symbol used to indicate that one number or value is larger than another. For example, 5 > 2 means '5 is greater than 2'. The symbol's pointed end always points towards the smaller number.
2. How do I remember the difference between greater than and less than symbols?
Use the 'alligator mouth' trick! Imagine the symbol as an alligator's mouth; it always opens to eat the larger number. So, > means 'greater than' because the open end points to the bigger value, while < means 'less than' because the open end is facing the smaller value.
3. How do I type the greater than symbol on a keyboard?
The greater than symbol (>) is usually located above the period (.) key. On most keyboards, you can type it by pressing the Shift key and then the period key. In some text editors or programming languages, you might need to use a different method, like a Unicode character input.
4. What are some examples using the greater than sign?
Here are some examples: * 10 > 5 (Ten is greater than five) * -2 > -5 (Negative two is greater than negative five) * 1.5 > 1.2 (One point five is greater than one point two) * 250 > 200 (Two hundred fifty is greater than two hundred)
5. Can the greater than symbol be used with variables and inequalities?
Yes! The greater than symbol is fundamental in algebra for representing inequalities. For example, x > 3 means 'x is greater than 3'. This indicates all values of x that are larger than 3. You'll often see this in solving equations and graphing.
6. What does 'greater than or equal to' mean, and how is it written?
The symbol ≥ represents 'greater than or equal to'. It means that the value on the left is either greater than or equal to the value on the right. For example, x ≥ 5 means x can be 5 or any number larger than 5.
7. How is the greater than symbol used in comparing fractions?
To compare fractions using the greater than symbol, find a common denominator and compare the numerators. For example, to compare 2/3 and 3/4, change them to 8/12 and 9/12. Since 9/12 > 8/12, we know that 3/4 > 2/3.
8. How is the greater than symbol used in real-life situations?
The greater than symbol is used in many real-world scenarios to compare quantities. For instance: * Comparing scores in a game (Team A scored 25 points > Team B's 18 points) * Comparing heights (Person A is 180cm > Person B's 175cm) * Comparing prices (Product X costs ₹500 > Product Y's ₹450)
9. What are some common mistakes students make with the greater than symbol?
Common mistakes include confusing > with <, particularly when dealing with negative numbers. Students sometimes forget that a larger negative number is actually smaller. Another frequent error is misinterpreting inequalities involving variables.
10. How can I use the greater than symbol in Microsoft Excel?
In Excel, the greater than symbol (>) is used in formulas for conditional formatting and logical tests. For example, the formula `=A1>B1` will return TRUE if the value in cell A1 is greater than the value in cell B1.
11. What is the Unicode for the greater than symbol?
The Unicode for the greater than symbol is U+003E. This code can be used in programming and other contexts where you need to represent the symbol using its Unicode value.
12. How do I use the greater than symbol in LaTeX?
In LaTeX, the greater than symbol is simply typed as `>` . No special commands are needed.
