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How to Calculate if a Number Is Greater or Less Than

You can compare numbers by using a number line. A number is greater than another number if it's located to the right of the other number on a number line and less than another number if it's to the left. A number line is a horizontal line that has a 0 in the middle, increasing positive numbers listed to the right of 0 and decreasing negative numbers to the left of 0. For example, 1, 2 and 3 are the first three spaces from left to right on the right side of 0. The numbers -1, -2 and -3 are the first three spaces from right to left on the left side of 0.

Instructions

- 1
  Determine two numbers you want to compare. For example, compare 4 and 6.
- 2
  Determine where the first number would be on a number line. For example, positive numbers are to the right of 0, so the integer 4 would be four spaces to the right of 0.
- 3
  Determine where the second number would be on a number line. For example, positive numbers are to the right of 0, so 6 would be six spaces to the right of 0.
- 4
  Identify the number that is to the right of the other number on the number line to determine the number that is greater than the other. For example, 6 is to the right of 4 on the number line, so 6 is greater than 4.
- 5
  Identify the number that is to the left of the other number on the number line to determine the number that is less than the other. For example, 4 is to the left of 6 on the number line, so 4 is less than 6.

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