1.08 Compare and order integers

In what we have seen so far the integers are increasing from left to right on the number line. This means that when we compare two integers, the integer further to the right is always the greatest and the integer further to the left will be the least.

The number line increases from left to right.

Inequality symbols can be used to show the relative ordering of two integers on the number line.

The symbol < represents the phrase is less than. For example, -3 is less than 4 can be represented by -3<4.

The symbol > represents the phrase is greater than. For example, 4 is greater than -3 can be represented by 4>-3.

We can use a number line to clearly see the relationship between different integers.

• Since the point at -4 is to the left of 0, we know that -4 is less than 0, so -4<0.
• Since the point at 0 is to the left of 3, we know that 0 is less than 3, so 0<3.
• Since the point at 8 is to the right of 3, we know that 8 is greater than 3, so 8>3.

Examples

We can arrange these four integers in ascending order by writing them left to right in order from the least integer to the greatest integer. We can use the < symbol to arrange the integers like so, -4<0<3<8. Here are the integers written in ascending order:

-4,\,0,\,3,\,8

Now using the > symbol, we can arrange these same integers in descending order, written left to right from greatest to least. Rearranging -4<0 to 0>-4 and 0<3 to 3>0, we can arrange the integers like so, 8>3>0>-4. Here are the integers written in descending order:

8,\,3,\,0,\,-4

Notice that the descending order of the integers is the reverse of the ascending order.

We've seen before that the further an integer is to the right on a number line, the larger the integer is.

Examples