Comparison Signs
What Are Comparison Signs?
Comparison signs are symbols that help us understand how numbers relate to each other. There are three main ones:
< means the number on the left is less than the number on the right.
= means the two numbers are equal.
> means the number on the left is greater than the number on the right.
We give this topic extra attention because these symbols look quite similar — and kids often mix them up. To help them tell the difference, we use a fun and memorable image: a hungry crocodile who always opens his mouth toward the bigger number. His wide-open jaws look just like the < or > sign — and he only wants to eat the larger pile!
Why Does It Matter for Kids?
Understanding the symbols <, =, and > helps kids recognize quantitative relationships between numbers and express logical comparisons in a compact way. Using visual mnemonics, like the hungry crocodile, builds strong mental connections between the symbol and its meaning.
But there’s more to it than just remembering which number is bigger. Research shows that teaching comparison signs alongside the equal sign gives kids a deeper understanding of what equality really means. Instead of thinking of = as simply the “answer button,” kids begin to understand it as a relationship between two quantities.
This approach helps kids go beyond simply solving equations and start thinking about whether an equation is actually true. It’s not just about calculating 76 + 45 and writing the result — it’s about understanding whether an entire equation makes sense:
76 + 45 = 121 → True
Is 76 + 45 – 9 = 121 – 9? → Kids learn to decide: true or false?
A strong grasp of symbolic relationships like these lays the foundation for success in algebra later on. In fact, understanding inequality is considered a critical early skill for middle and high school math.
How Do We Teach?
We begin by helping kids compare groups of objects rather than just numbers. For instance, which basket has more apples? To do this, they often start by matching objects one-to-one — like pairing socks — to see which group runs out first.
Want to know more about this strategy? Read our article on one-to-one correspondence!
To support this idea, we bring in the image of a hungry crocodile who always turns his mouth toward the bigger group — or the bigger number. At first, kids place comparison signs between objects. Later, they move on to placing them between actual numbers.
Comparison
Comparison symbols
As their skills grow, kids tackle challenges like figuring out which digit is missing in a comparison, or spotting the correct sign in a number sentence. They also learn to use the number line to figure out which number comes earlier or later — another great visual aid for comparison.
Eventually, kids become ready for more advanced ideas, like comparing something that’s “more than one, but less than another.” To express this kind of relationship, we use two comparison signs pointing in the same direction — a concept that comes up often in later math.
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Comparison symbols
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Compare numbers on 5-frame (from 1 to 15)
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Place value in 2-digit numbers
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Estimation
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Big Ideas
Inequalities (statements using < or >) aren’t just for early math. They show up all the way through school — especially in algebra. And they’re not static. You can combine inequalities, transform them, and even reverse the direction of the sign depending on what you do.
For example:
If you add two inequalities with the same direction, you may get a new, valid inequality.
If you multiply both sides by a positive number, the inequality stays the same.
But if you multiply by a negative number, the inequality flips direction — greater than becomes less than, and vice versa.
Learning the logic behind comparison signs sets kids up for long-term success in mathematics — from counting apples to solving equations.
