What this calculator does
This greater than or less than calculator takes two numbers and shows the correct comparison between them: greater than (>), less than (<), or equal to (=). It is a small, deliberately simple check for when the direction of an inequality symbol needs confirming, particularly with negative numbers or decimals where the answer is less obvious at a glance.
The comparison is symmetric in one specific way worth remembering: if a is greater than b, then b is less than a, and the symbol simply flips direction depending on which number is written first. Getting that direction right is the main thing people trip up on, especially with negative values, where −3 is greater than −8 even though 8 is the larger digit.
The formula
Compare the two numbers directly. If the first is larger, the symbol is >. If the first is smaller, the symbol is <. If they are exactly equal, the symbol is =.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| a | The first number entered. |
| b | The second number entered. |
| > | Greater than: a is larger than b. |
| < | Less than: a is smaller than b. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| First number (a) | The first number to compare. |
| Second number (b) | The second number to compare it against. |
When to use it
Checking an inequality by hand
When working through algebra or a word problem involving an inequality, confirming which direction the symbol points for specific numbers catches sign errors before they carry through the rest of the working.
Comparing negative numbers
Negative number comparisons run the opposite way to what the digits alone suggest; entering both values directly avoids second-guessing which one is actually larger.
Comparing decimals with different numbers of digits
A number like 0.45 can look larger than 0.5 at a glance because it has more digits; comparing the values directly removes that ambiguity.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How the comparison changes as the second number varies, against a fixed first number of 10
A fixed first number of 10, compared against a range of second numbers.
| Second number (b) | Comparison | In words |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 10.000 > 2.000 | 10.000 is greater than 2.000 |
| 5 | 10.000 > 5.000 | 10.000 is greater than 5.000 |
| 10 | 10.000 = 10.000 | 10.000 is equal to 10.000 |
| 15 | 10.000 < 15.000 | 10.000 is less than 15.000 |
| 20 | 10.000 < 20.000 | 10.000 is less than 20.000 |
| 25 | 10.000 < 25.000 | 10.000 is less than 25.000 |
Questions
How do I remember which way the symbol points?
The symbol always opens toward the larger number and points toward the smaller one, like a mouth opening toward the bigger meal. So 12 > 7 reads as 12 is greater than 7, with the wide side facing the 12.
Is −3 greater than or less than −8?
−3 is greater than −8. On a number line, −3 sits to the right of −8, and any number further right is the larger one, regardless of how the digits themselves compare.
What does it mean if the two numbers are equal?
Neither greater than nor less than applies; the correct symbol is =, meaning the two values are exactly the same.
Does this work with decimals as well as whole numbers?
Yes. Both numbers can be entered as decimals, and the comparison works the same way, based on their actual value rather than how many digits each one has.
To find the size of the gap between two values rather than just its direction, see the percentage difference calculator. To round either number before comparing it, use the rounding calculator.