If you have 8, 12, how would you know, which sign to use <>?

Question

I need to know the rule if not given instructions.

This is what I was given.

Place the correct symbol between the two numbers.
8 12

How do I know if they want to know which is less or greater? Do I always choose the greater number or do I choose the number to the left or right. What is the rule of thumb with these instructions?

The instructions do not say whether they want greater or less than.

Answer 1

Think of > as an open, greedy hand that always tries to get the most it can.
So if you have 12 and 8, the hand wants to get 12, so it opens towards 12: 8 < 12

Answer 2

You dont really make this clear, but if you want to say 8 is smaller than 12 you use ;
8<12
vice versa for 12>8 (12 is greater than 8)
just think about it as the open end being bigger and so this always is on the bigger numbers side.

Answer 3

< means less than
> means greater than
If there r numbers like 8 , 12
If u wanna say 8 is less than 12 then it can b represented as 8<12
If u wanna say 12 is greater than 8 then it can b written as 12>8

Answer 4

Do you mean 8 < 12, that 8 is less than 12. Arrow points to the smaller number.

Answer 5

8 < 12 or eight is less than 12. Remember that the arrow should point to the number with lesser value.

Answer 6

8 is less than 12 and therefore 8 goes to pointed end of symbol and 12 goes to wide end of symbol:-
8<12

Answer 7

12>8 that mean 12 bigger than 8, 8<12 mean 8 less than 12

Answer 8

< means less than

For example

8<12 , in words is 8 is less than 12

> means more than

For example

12>8 , in words is 12 is more than 8

As you can see the arrow is pointing to the smaller number.
----
There are also <= and >=

<= means less than or equal and
>= means more than or equal

which are used in algebraic expressions for example
4x>=4
x>=1 in words is x is more than or equal to 1

Answer 9

I loved this when I was in First Grade...

I asked my mother how you would tell which sign to use and this is what she told me:

"Imagine that the sign was pacman, with his mouth as the wide end of the symbol. What would pacman eat, the bigger or the smaller number? Of course, he'd eat the bigger number, 'coz it'd give him a higher score. So always point pacman's mouth towards the bigger number."

I have learnt that lesson ever since.

=)

Answer 10

8< 12
the widest part (or open part) of the sign goes on the side of the largest number
if you measured 8 and 12 on a number line, 12 would be larger (or wider) than 8.

does that help?