Math Lab
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Greater, Less or Equal?

Comparison · Class I

Move sliders and see which is bigger.

4
type a value
09
6
type a value
09
Live values
  • Larger value6
  • Smaller value4
  • Difference2
Live readout
Larger value6
Smaller value4
Difference2
Number A4
Number B6

Formulas in this lab

  • Larger value
    max⁡(a,b)\max(a,b)
  • Smaller value
    min⁡(a,b)\min(a,b)
  • Difference
    ∣a−b∣|a-b|
Tip: The crocodile's mouth always eats the bigger number!

Frequently asked questions

▶What does greater, less or equal mean?

Greater means bigger, less means smaller, and equal means the same. So 7 is greater than 5, and 4 is less than 9. If both numbers are 6, they are equal.

▶How do I use the compare slider?

Move the two sliders to pick any two numbers. The lab shows them side by side and tells you which is bigger, smaller, or equal. The dots or bars also grow in size to help your eyes compare.

▶When do we compare numbers in real life?

When you and your sister count toffees, you check who has more. When two cricket teams score runs, the bigger score wins. Comparing prices of two ice creams to find the cheaper one is also comparing numbers.

▶Easy trick to remember

The greater-than symbol looks like a hungry mouth that opens towards the bigger number. So the mouth always eats the bigger one. This helps you read greater-than and less-than signs without forgetting.