Greater than and Less than Symbol

Videos, stories and songs to help Grade 1 kids learn about how to use the greater than and less than symbol.

For example:
5 is greater than 1 can be written as 5 > 1
7 is less than 9 can be written as 7 < 9

The following diagram shows how to use the greater than, less than and equal symbols. Scroll down the page for more examples.

 

• Printable & Online Compare Numbers Worksheets

  Printable & Online
  One Less
  

  Compare & Select
  Compare using Sentences
  Compare using Symbols
  

  Learning the > and < symbols (eg. >, <. =)
  Compare Numbers up to 30 (eg. 25 > 17)
  Compare Numbers up to 100 (eg. 25 > 17)
  Compare Numbers (3-digit) (eg. 534 > 524)
  

  Before, Between, After
  1 more, 1 less, 10 more, 10 less
  Number Sequence (2-digit numbers)
  Number Pattern (3-digit numbers)
  

  Order Numbers (2-digit) (eg. 14, 41, 54)
  Order Numbers (3-digit) (eg. 344, 445, 545)
  

  Interactive
  Greater than and Less than (2 digits)
  Greater than and Less than (3 digits)
  Greater than and Less than (4 digits)
  

  Compare Numbers up to 30 (eg. 25 > 17)
  Compare Numbers up to 100 (eg. 35< 68)
  

The Greater Than Less Than Song
Learn about greater than, less than and equal to with this inequalities song for children.

• Show Video

• Show Lyrics

  Greater than, less than, equal to
  Greater than, less than, equal to
  These symbols are the ones you use
  For greater than, less than and equal to HEY!
  Greater than, less than, equal to

  Once upon a time there was a hungry alligator
  He loved to eat numbers so he figured out a way to
  Always get the biggest bite when the numbers were there
  He would stop for a second, take a look and compare
  Whichever number was the biggest of the two
  Was the one that he would eat, so just to review
  Here’s the main thing to know about the hungry alligator
  He always eats the number that’s greater, GREATER!

  Greater than, less than, equal to
  Greater than, less than, equal to
  These symbols are the ones you use
  For greater than, less than and equal to HEY!
  Greater than, less than, equal to

  The greater than symbol points to the right
  The less than symbol points to the left
  The symbol always points to the number that’s smaller
  I would like to tell you more but I’m running out of breath
  Sometimes it can be hard to remember which symbol is which
  So here’s a simple little tip:
  The less than symbol is shaped like an “L”
  Just remember “L” for “less” that’s how you can tell

  “But what about the equal sign?”

  Now here’s what it means when you see the equal sign:
  The value of the numbers is the same on both sides
  But on the other hand, greater than and less than
  Are called inequalities because they’re not equal, man!

  Greater than, less than, equal to
  Greater than, less than, equal to
  These symbols are the ones you use
  For greater than, less than and equal to HEY!
  Greater than, less than, equal to

Alligator Greater than
Includes a song to help you remember the greater than sign.
Lyrics:
Please tell me, Mr. Alligator
Which of these numbers is the greater?
Open your jaws, so I can figure
Which of these numbers is the bigger?

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Greater than or less than sign

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Learn how to use the greater than and less than math symbols between two numbers

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Comparing Numbers

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Solving Inequalities: Greater Than/Less Than/Equal To

First grade learners can easily get confused when solving inequalities. This quick little lesson will help give them a visual that will make writing the greater than/less than symbol easier.

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Greater Than, Less Than or Equal To Symbol using the dot technique

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Try the free Mathway calculator and problem solver below to practice various math topics. Try the given examples, or type in your own problem and check your answer with the step-by-step explanations.

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