The sign < means 'is less than', > means 'is greater than' and = means 'is equal to'. The open end of < and > always faces the bigger number. Work out the value of each side, then choose the sign. Sometimes you can compare without calculating: if both sides start with the same number, only compare what changes, and remember that taking away more leaves less.
Explore this idea with maths tools
Maths you can move
Build 8 + 5
Tap two gold counters to fill the ten-frame.
8 in the frame + 5 waiting. The total stays the same.
Words to know
- less than (<)
- smaller in value
- greater than (>)
- bigger in value
- equal (=)
- the same value
Worked examples
Choose <, > or = to make this true: 7 + 5 ○ 11
- 1.7 + 5 = 12.
- 2.12 is greater than 11.
= >
Choose <, > or = to make this true: 6 × 4 ○ 5 × 5
- 1.6 × 4 = 24 and 5 × 5 = 25.
- 2.24 is less than 25.
= <
Without working out the answers, choose <, > or = to make this true: 72 − 19 ○ 72 − 21
- 1.Both sides start with 72.
- 2.Taking away 21 leaves less than taking away 19, so the left side is greater.
= >
For parents
Method: Work out each side, then compare
What to say: What is each side worth? Which way does the sign open?
Common mistakes:
- Knows which side is bigger but writes the sign the wrong way round.
- Compares only the first number on each side and ignores the rest of the calculation.
- Compares the numbers that changed without thinking about the operation (thinks taking away more leaves more).
- Judges a statement true only when both sides are equal, whatever sign is used.