what are the greater than and less than signs

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The greater than and less than signs are mathematical symbols used to compare two numbers or quantities. The greater than sign, denoted as ">", indicates that the value on the left side is larger than the value on the right side. The less than sign, denoted as "<", indicates that the value on the left side is smaller than the value on the right side.

To understand these symbols better, let's consider an example:
Let's say we have two numbers, 5 and 7. Using the greater than and less than signs, we can compare them as follows:

5 < 7: This statement is true because 5 is indeed less than 7.
7 > 5: This statement is also true because 7 is indeed greater than 5.

When comparing numbers, it is important to note that the greater than and less than signs only provide a relative comparison between the two quantities. They do not indicate the exact difference between the numbers.