More and Less: Definition, Examples and Visualisation

More and Less: In our daily lives, we frequently make comparisons. We will see how important more and less when we compare two numbers, such as the age of two people, the weight of two bags, the pay of two people, the height of you and your sister, and so on. To make the comparison easier to understand, we utilise more than and less than symbols.

More implies bigger, whereas less implies lesser. We see these concepts more in word problems, defining addition and less defining subtraction. When comparing two integers, we also utilise the larger than and less than symbols. Let us explore the concepts of more and less and their examples and applications in this article.

Learn About Comparison of Numbers

More and Less: Definition

Comparison is the process that tells us the similar properties of different objects. It is a fundamental concept in mathematics that allows us to define whether two numbers are equal, greater than, or less than each other when comparing them.

We know that more means something extra and less means a small amount. In mathematics, we use symbols and some basic operations to define more and less. Before we learn fundamental arithmetic operations such as addition and subtraction, it is essential to understand the meaning and the application of more and less.

More and Less Examples

Let’s have a look at the image.

Now, observe the ant very carefully and tell who has more legs? You? or the ant?
You have only two legs. Right? Now, count the number of legs of the ant. The ant has six legs. We know that six is a larger number than two.
So, you can say that the ant has more legs than you or you have less legs than the ant.

We’ll be bringing two bags. The apples are in one bag, and the potatoes are in the other. We can’t tell which bag is heavier just by looking at it if we don’t know how much it weighs. The left bag has \({\rm{3}}\,{\rm{kg}}\) of apples, whereas the right bag contains \({\rm{5}}\,{\rm{kg}}\) of potatoes. To determine which weights heavier, we must compare \({\rm{3}}\,{\rm{kg}}\) and \({\rm{5}}\,{\rm{kg}}.\)

So, we can say the weight of the apple bag is less than the potato bag, or the weight of the potato bag is more than the apple bag as \(3\) is smaller than \(5.\)

More than Symbol

More than symbol says which quantity is larger than the other one. 

Example: In the numbers \(6\) and \(4,\) we know that \(6\) is greater than \(4.\)
We can use one specific symbol \((>)\) for “more than or greater than”, and it is called a greater than or more than sign.

The wide-open side of the sign always faces towards the greater number, and the narrow endpoint faces towards the smaller number.

Here, \(6\) is greater than \(4,\) expressed mathematically by the greater than or more than sign.
Suppose we are representing number \(6\) with six stars and number \(4\) with four stars. We can compare more than a sign with an alligator’s opened mouth.
Here, the alligator’s mouth open towards the left, the same as the greater-than sign, in which wide-open sides faces towards the left.

So, mathematically we could write it as \(6>4.\)

Some more examples are:

1. \(22>11\)
2. \(555>122\)
3. \(25>23\)
4. \(1001>1000\)

Less than Symbol

Less than symbol says which quantity is smaller than the other one.
Example: In the numbers \(6\) and \(4,\) we know that \(4\) is smaller than \(6.\)

In mathematics, we can use one special symbol \((<)\) for “Less than“, and it is called a less-than sign.
The wide-open side of the sign always faces towards the greater number, and the narrow endpoint faces towards the smaller number.

Here, \(2\) is smaller than \(3,\) which is represented mathematically by the less-than sign. Thus, there are two points on the right side, and on the left side, there is only one point of the less-than sign.

So, we can represent the above relation as \(4<6.\)

Some more examples are

1. \(22<25\)
2. \(111<1111\)
3. \(5500<50000\)
4. \(9999<10001\)

Comparison of Integers

We can define the integers as the set of natural numbers and their additive inverse, including zero. The set of integers is \(\{ \ldots .. – 3, – 2, – 1,0,1,2,3 \ldots .\} \) Integers are numbers that can not be a fraction.

So, on the number line, if we move to the right, the values will increase, and towards the left, the values will decrease.

We know that zero lies in the centre of the number line. The positive numbers lie to the right of the zero, and the negative numbers lie left of the zero.

Use of More and Less

We use the terms more and less for some fundamental arithmetic operations such as addition and subtraction. Let us take an example and explain.
Suppose Jyoti has \(₹10\) more than Priya in her purse. Priya has \(₹50.\) How much Jyoti has?
In the above problem, the term more signifies addition.
So, to find the amount of Jyoti, we need to add  \(₹50\) and \(₹10.\)
Therefore, Jyoti has \(₹50+₹10=₹60\)

Let us take another example.
Sunny’s brother’s age is \(5\) years less than Sunny’s age. The present age of Sunny is \(15\) years. Find his brother’s age.
In the above problem, the term less signifies subtraction.
So, to find Sunny’s brother’s age, we need to subtract \(5\) from \(15\) \((5\) less means we need to take away \(5\) from \(15)\)
Therefore, Sunny’s brother’s age \(=15-5=10.\)

Solved Examples – More and Less

Q.1. Consider the least three-digit number and the greatest two-digit number. Show the greater number by using the mathematical symbol.
Ans: We know that the least three-digit number is \(100.\)
The greatest two-digit number is \(99.\)
The numbers with more digits are greater.
So, \(100\) is the greater number.
In mathematical form, it can be written as follows:
So, \(100>99.\)

Q.2. Preethu has \(4\) stars, and Madhu has \(6\) stars. Find the greater number among these and insert a proper sign.

Ans: Madhu has more stars as compared to Preethu.
So, \(6\) is the greatest number, and we can write it as \(6>4.\)

Q.3. Replace the question mark using the correct symbols.

Ans: Here, \(8\) is greater than \(2,\) expressed mathematically by the greater than sign.
Hence, \(8>2\)
\(6\) is less than \(9,\) which is expressed mathematically by the less-than sign.
Hence, \(6<9\)

Q.4. Madhu’s sister’s age is \(6\) years less than Madhu’s age. The present age of Madhu is \(20\) years. Find her sister’s age.
Ans: In this problem, the term less signifies subtraction.
So, to find Madhu’s sister’s age, we need to subtract \(6\) from \(20\) \(( 6\) less means we need to take away \(6\) from \(20)\)
Therefore, Madhu’s sister’s age \(=20-6=14\) years.

Q.5. Put the correct sign \((<, =, >)\) for the following:
\(23\_\_\_21\)
\(11\_\_\_25\)
\(55\_\_\_100\)
Ans: We know that to represent the greater number, we can use the symbol \(“>”,\) and for a smaller number, we can use \(“<“.\)
So, \(23>21\)
\(11<15\)
\(55<100\)

Summary

In mathematics, the more and less is to decide which number is greater or lesser to another. This article will help us to know the rules to compare the numbers and the quantities and the signs of mathematical symbols. This article will give knowledge about using more and less in word problems and daily life.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on More and Less

Let’s look at some of the commonly asked questions about More and Less:

Q.1. What is more and less?
Ans: More means extra, and less means fewer. We get to know the importance of more and less when we compare two numbers, age of two persons, the weight of two bags, the salary of two, the height of you and your sister, etc. We use more than, less than symbols to make the comparison easy to understand.

Q.2. How do you explain more or less?
Ans: Suppose we are taking two bags. One bag contains apples, and the another includes potatoes. By looking at the bags, we can not say which is heavier if we don’t know their weight. If one bag has 3 kg apples, and the other has 5 kg of potato, then to know which is heavier, we need to compare 3 kg with 5 kg.
So, we can say the weight of the apple bag is less than the potato bag, or the weight of the potato bag is more than the apple bag as 3 is smaller than 5. In this way, we can explain more or less.

Q.3. What does the less than symbol mean?
Ans: A less than symbol is a mathematical symbol used when one value is smaller than another. Less than symbol looks like \(“<“.\)

Q.4. What does the greater than symbol means?
Ans: A greater than symbol is a mathematical symbol used when one value is greater than another value. Greater than symbol looks like \(“>”.\)

Q.5. Which is more and which is less?
Ans: More means greater, and less means smaller.
In the numbers 3 and 2, we know that 3 is greater than 2. In other words, we can say 2 is less than 3.
Here, 3 is greater than 2, which is expressed mathematically by the greater than or more than sign, and 2 is less than 3, representing less than sign.

Learn About Greater Than Symbol

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