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Less Than Symbol in Maths: Meaning, Tricks, and Examples

Q: How do you compare two values using <?

Check which value is smaller and place the smaller number on the left.

Q: What does 𝑥 < 𝑦 mean in algebra?

It means the variable 𝑥 is smaller than the variable y.

Q: How to write 45 is not greater than 50?

To express "45 is not greater than 50," you can write: 45 ≤ 50 This means 45 is less than or equal to 50, which shows 45 is not greater.

The less than symbol in Maths is used to show that one value is smaller than another. Learn an easy trick to remember the less than symbol with solved examples here.

Chandni 23 Jan, 2025

Less Than: In math, we often compare numbers to see which one is bigger or smaller. The "Less Than S ymbol" (<) is like a friendly arrow that points to a smaller number. Think of it as a crocodile’s mouth that’s always hungry for the bigger number!

For example:

The crocodile opens its mouth toward because it’s bigger than .
The crocodile chooses because it’s the larger snack!

This simple symbol helps us solve puzzles, compare values, and understand inequalities. In this blog post, we will discuss less than the symbol in detail with solved examples.

[video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.pw.live/exams/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Curious-Jr-Ad-3-1-1.mp4"][/video]

What is Less Than ?

T he concept of "less than" refers to comparing two values to determine which one is smaller. The symbol for "less than" is “<”, and it helps compare numbers, weights, heights, and other quantities. For example, in the expression 2 < 6, it means 2 is less than 6. This symbol is commonly used in mathematical equations and real-world comparisons. Here are a few other examples to understand its application:

5 < 8: Five is smaller than eight.
-10 < -3: Negative ten is less than negative three.
0 < 15: Zero is smaller than fifteen.
3y + 2 < 14: The value of 3y + 2 is less than 14. For y = 3, the expression becomes 9+2 =11, and 11 < 14, which is true.

[video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.pw.live/exams/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/curious-jr.mp4"][/video]

Tricks to Remember the Less Than Symbol

The less than symbol (“<”) and its counterpart, the greater than symbol (“>”), have similar appearances but point in opposite directions. To avoid confusion between the two, you can use these two simple tricks to remember which symbol represents “less than”:

The L Method

The word “less” starts with the letter L , and the less than symbol (“<”) resembles a slanted version of the letter L . This can help you associate the symbol with "less than."

The Smaller Mouth Method

Think of the less-than symbol (“<”) as an open mouth pointing toward the smaller value. The wider endpoints are to the larger value, and the narrow endpoints are to the smaller value. For example: 3 < 7 The open side of the symbol faces 7, the larger value, while the pointed end faces 3, the smaller value .

Standard Deviation

Representing "Less Than" on a Number Line

The less than symbol (“<”) is represented on a number line to show the range of possible values for an inequality visually. Here’s how it’s done in a simple, step-by-step way:

Steps to Represent x<3

Here. we a re discussing steps to represent x< 3 on a number line

Step 1: Identify the Limit Value : The inequality x<3 means x can take any value smaller than 3, but not 3 itself . On the number line, the number 3 is the limit value . Step 2: Mark the limit value with an open circle: Draw an open circle at 3. The open circle indicates that 3 is not included in the solution. Step 3: Draw the Arrow for Smaller Values : Starting from the open circle at 3, draw an arrow extending to the left toward smaller numbers. This shows that all values less than 3 are part of the solution. Note: Here, the open circle represents that the limit value (in this case, 3) is excluded from the solution. This is because x<3 strictly means x is smaller than 3, not equal to 3.

If the Inequality Is x ≤ 3x

For x ≤ 3x the steps are similar, but there is one key difference: Step 1: Use a Filled Circle : Instead of an open circle, draw a filled circle at 3. The filled circle means the limit value (3) is included in the solution. Step 2: Draw the Arrow to the Left : Extend the arrow to the left as before, covering all smaller values, including 3.

Less Than, Greater Than, Equal To, and Not Equal To Symbols Comparison

The table below explains the mathematical symbols used to compare numbers, along with their names, meanings, and examples.

Symbol/Sign	Name	Indicates	Explanation
<	Less than	The left value is smaller than the right value	4 is less than 6
-	Equal to	The left and right values are the same	10 is equal to 10
	Not Equal To	The "not equal to" symbol is used to indicate that two values are not the same or do not hold equality.	4 is not equal to 7
>	Greater than	The left value is larger than the right value	12 is greater than 8

Less Than Symbol Solved Example

1: Solve for in .

Solution:

To find the value of

, divide both sides of the inequality by 5:

5

5

So, the solution is

Example 2: A library has two sections for books. The first section contains 120 books, and the second section contains 95 books. Which section has fewer books?

Solution:

To compare the number of books in both sections:

The first section has books.
The second section has books.

We know that

Thus, the second section has fewer books because

is less than

Example 3: Ravi’s savings in May were at least ₹20 less than his savings in April. If Ravi saved ₹180 in May, determine his savings in April.

Solution:

The given statement is: "Ravi’s savings in May were at least ₹20 less than his savings in April. Let

represent Ravi’s savings in April. The inequality expression becomes:

Add 20 to both sides of the inequality:

Therefore, Ravi’s savings in April were at least ₹200.

Example 3: Find the possible whole number values for where

Solution:

Given two conditions:

We analyze each condition step by step:

For can be
Fror can be - ∞

Now, taking the overlapping range of both conditions, x can only include whole numbers that satisfy both inequalities:

The possible whole number values for

are 5, 6, 7, and 8.

Related Articles
Equation	Area of Equilateral Triangle
Quadrilateral	Area of Trapezium
Ratio	Surface Area of Cylinder

Less Than Symbol FAQs

What’s an example of "less than" in measurements?

A box weighing less than 10 kg" means its weight is x < 10.

How do you compare two values using <?

Check which value is smaller and place the smaller number on the left.

What does 𝑥 < 𝑦 mean in algebra?

It means the variable 𝑥 is smaller than the variable y.

How to write 45 is not greater than 50?

To express "45 is not greater than 50," you can write: 45 ≤ 50 This means 45 is less than or equal to 50, which shows 45 is not greater.

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Less Than Symbol in Maths: Meaning, Tricks, and Examples

What is Less Than ?

Tricks to Remember the Less Than Symbol

The L Method

The Smaller Mouth Method

Representing "Less Than" on a Number Line

Steps to Represent x<3

If the Inequality Is x ≤ 3x

Less Than, Greater Than, Equal To, and Not Equal To Symbols Comparison

Less Than Symbol Solved Example

Less Than Symbol FAQs

What’s an example of "less than" in measurements?

How do you compare two values using &lt;?

What does 𝑥 &lt; 𝑦 mean in algebra?

How to write 45 is not greater than 50?

Less Than Symbol FAQs

What’s an example of "less than" in measurements?

How do you compare two values using &lt;?

What does 𝑥 &lt; 𝑦 mean in algebra?

How to write 45 is not greater than 50?

Less Than Symbol in Maths: Meaning, Tricks, and Examples

What is Less Than ?

Tricks to Remember the Less Than Symbol

The L Method

The Smaller Mouth Method

Representing "Less Than" on a Number Line

Steps to Represent x<3

If the Inequality Is x ≤ 3x

Less Than, Greater Than, Equal To, and Not Equal To Symbols Comparison

Less Than Symbol Solved Example

How do you compare two values using <?

What does 𝑥 < 𝑦 mean in algebra?

How do you compare two values using <?

What does 𝑥 < 𝑦 mean in algebra?