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Definition

The greater than symbol (>) is a mathematical operator used to compare two values and indicate that one value is larger or greater than the other. It is a fundamental concept in the introduction to whole numbers, as it allows for the ordering and comparison of different whole numbers.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The greater than symbol (>) is used to indicate that one value is larger or greater than another value.
2. Whole numbers are a subset of the real number system and include the positive integers and zero.
3. Comparing whole numbers using the greater than symbol is a fundamental skill in understanding number relationships and order.
4. The greater than symbol is an essential component of inequalities, which are used to represent relationships between quantities that are not equal.
5. Understanding the greater than symbol is crucial for applying the correct order of operations when evaluating mathematical expressions involving whole numbers.

Review Questions

• Explain how the greater than symbol (>) is used to compare whole numbers.
  • The greater than symbol (>) is used to compare two whole numbers and indicate that one value is larger or greater than the other. For example, the expression 7 > 4 means that the whole number 7 is greater than the whole number 4. This allows for the ordering and comparison of different whole numbers, which is a fundamental skill in the introduction to whole numbers.
• Describe the role of the greater than symbol (>) in the context of inequalities.
  • The greater than symbol (>) is a key component of inequalities, which are mathematical statements that compare two values and indicate their relationship. In the context of whole numbers, inequalities using the greater than symbol can be used to represent relationships where one value is larger than another, such as 12 > 8 or $x > 5$. Understanding how to work with inequalities involving the greater than symbol is essential for solving a variety of mathematical problems involving whole numbers.
• Analyze how the understanding of the greater than symbol (>) is necessary for correctly applying the order of operations when evaluating mathematical expressions with whole numbers.
  • The greater than symbol (>) is crucial for understanding the order of operations, which is a set of rules that determine the sequence in which mathematical operations should be performed to evaluate an expression correctly. When working with whole numbers, the greater than symbol is used to compare the relative magnitudes of different values within an expression, which is necessary for applying the correct order of operations. For example, in the expression $3 + 4 \times 5$, the greater than symbol is used to determine that the multiplication operation should be performed before the addition, resulting in the correct evaluation of 23.

Related terms

Whole Numbers: Whole numbers are the set of positive integers, including 0, that can be represented without a fractional component (e.g., 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.).

Inequality: An inequality is a mathematical statement that compares two values using symbols such as >, <, ≥, or ≤ to indicate the relationship between them.

Order of Operations: The order of operations is a set of rules that determines the sequence in which mathematical operations should be performed to evaluate an expression correctly.