What is an inequality?

An inequality is a number sentence showing that two amounts are not equal. The signs are < (less than), > (greater than), ≤ (less than or equal to) and ≥ (greater than or equal to). The wide open end of the sign always points to the larger amount.

Examples

• 5 > 3 means five is greater than three.
• 2 < 8 means two is less than eight.
• x > 4 means x can be any number bigger than 4.

Quick facts

• The open (wide) end of the sign faces the bigger number.
• An equation says two amounts are equal; an inequality says they are not.