What does less than mean in math?

Answer 1

In basic Mathematics students are taught about the Number Line. This is a straight line with a point identified as 0 (zero). Numbers to the right of zero are positive numbers such as 1, 2, 3, 4........and so on.

Numbers to the left of zero are negative numbers such as -1, -2, -3, -4.........and so on.

As you move from left to right, numbers become greater.

As you move from right to left, numbers become less. So that 7 is less than 8. This is stated using the sign "< " and we write 7< 8.

But you can also have, for example -1< 8, -33 < 2 and -15 < -3.

These are Inequality Statements. As long as the number to the left of this type of statement (less than statement) is further left on the number line than the number to the right, then this inequality applies.