If there are two numbers we can compare them. One number is
either greater than, less than or equal to the other number.
If the first number has a higher count than the second number, it is
greater than the second number. The symbol ">" is used to mean
greater than. In this example, we could say either "15 is greater
than 9" or "15 > 9". The greater than symbol can be remembered
because the larger open end is near the larger number and the smaller
pointed end is near the smaller number.
If one number is larger than another, then the second number is
smaller than the first. In this example, 9 is less than 15. We
would have to count up from 9 to reach 15. We could either write
"9 is less than 15" or "9 < 15". Once again the smaller end
goes toward the smaller number and the larger end toward the larger
number.
If both numbers are the same size we say they are equal to each
other. We would not need to count up or down from one number to
arrive at the second number. We could write "15 is equal to 15" or
use the equal symbol "=" and write " 15 = 15".