Find the Missing Operator: Connecting A and K on Number Line from -5 to 5

Q: Why is -5 less than 5 when they both have the number 5?

The negative sign makes all the difference! Think of it like temperature: -5°C is colder (smaller) than 5°C. On a number line, negative numbers are always to the left of positive numbers.

Q: How do I remember which way the inequality symbol goes?

Think of the symbol as a hungry mouth that always wants to eat the bigger number! Since 5 is bigger than -5, the mouth opens toward 5: \( -5 .

Q: What if both numbers were negative?

With two negative numbers, the one closer to zero is actually larger. For example: $ -2 > -5 $ because -2 is to the right of -5 on the number line.

Q: Do I always need to find the exact numbers first?

Yes! Always identify the numerical values of the letters by looking at their positions on the number line. This prevents confusion about which number is actually larger or smaller.

Q: What does the number line help me understand?

The number line shows visual order! Numbers get larger as you move right and smaller as you move left. This makes comparing any two numbers much easier than just looking at symbols.

Comparison Symbols with Number Line Positioning

Fill in the missing sign (?):

$A?K$

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Understand the problem

Fill in the missing sign (?):

$A?K$

Step-by-step solution

First we will locate the letters on the number line and see which numbers they represent:

$A=-5$

$K=5$

Since the number 5 is positive and the number minus 5 is negative, we can write the following:

$-5<5$

Final Answer

$<$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Number Line Reading: Left position means smaller value than right position
Technique: A is at -5, K is at 5, so -5 < 5
Check: Verify negative numbers are always less than positive numbers ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Confusing negative number magnitude with value
Don't think -5 > 5 because 5 looks bigger than 5 = wrong comparison! The negative sign makes -5 smaller than any positive number. Always remember that negative numbers are less than positive numbers, regardless of their digits.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

$$ 5 < -5 $$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why is -5 less than 5 when they both have the number 5?

The negative sign makes all the difference! Think of it like temperature: -5°C is colder (smaller) than 5°C. On a number line, negative numbers are always to the left of positive numbers.

How do I remember which way the inequality symbol goes?

Think of the symbol as a hungry mouth that always wants to eat the bigger number! Since 5 is bigger than -5, the mouth opens toward 5: $-5 < 5$ .

What if both numbers were negative?

With two negative numbers, the one closer to zero is actually larger. For example: $-2 > -5$ because -2 is to the right of -5 on the number line.

Do I always need to find the exact numbers first?

Yes! Always identify the numerical values of the letters by looking at their positions on the number line. This prevents confusion about which number is actually larger or smaller.

What does the number line help me understand?

The number line shows visual order! Numbers get larger as you move right and smaller as you move left. This makes comparing any two numbers much easier than just looking at symbols.

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