This key facts covers Inequality Symbols - Getting Them Right within Place Value & Ordering for GCSE Mathematics. Revise Place Value & Ordering in Number for GCSE Mathematics with 13 exam-style questions and 22 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 10 of 13 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Inequality Symbols - Getting Them Right
| Symbol | Meaning | Memory Trick | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| < | Less than | Arrow points to smaller number | 5 < 8 |
| > | Greater than | Opens towards bigger number | 8 > 5 |
| = | Equal to | Two parallel lines = same value | 0.5 = 0.50 |
| ≤ | Less than or equal to | < with a line underneath | x ≤ 5 |
| ≥ | Greater than or equal to | > with a line underneath | y ≥ 10 |
Memory device: The symbol is like a hungry crocodile - it always wants to eat the bigger number!
Examples:
- 2.5 < 2.7 (2.5 is less than 2.7)
- 100 > 99.9 (100 is greater than 99.9)
- 0.8 = 0.80 (same value, different forms)
- -5 < -2 (remember: closer to zero is bigger for negatives)
Practice questions for Place Value & Ordering
What is the value of the digit 7 in the number 47,362?
Write these numbers in order from smallest to largest: -3.2, 0.8, -1.5, -3.25, 0
Quick recall flashcards
How do you order whole numbers?
1. Compare number of digits (more digits = bigger)
2. If same digits, compare left to right
3. Find first column where digits differ
4. Bigger digit in that column = bigger number
What is place value?
Place value is the value a digit has because of its position in a number. Each column is worth 10× the column to its right.