Inequalities

Inequalities are expressions that compare the sizes of two values. An inequality tells us whether something is bigger or smaller than something else. The inequality symbols are < (less than), > (greater than), ≤ (less than or equal to), and ≥ (greater than or equal to). Here’s how they look in action:

• 2 > 1 (“Two is greater than one”)
• 1 < 2 (“One is less than two”)
• x ≥ 1 (“x is greater than or equal to one”)
• x ≤ 1 (“x is less than or equal to one”)

One way to remember the inequality symbols is to imagine them as hungry “mouths” that want to “eat” the bigger number.