Number Line Comparison: Determine the Operator Between Letters E and H

Q: How do I know which number each letter represents?

Look directly below each letter on the number line to find its numerical value. The letters are just labels - what matters is the number underneath!

Q: Why is E < H when E comes before H in the alphabet?

Alphabetical order has nothing to do with number line comparison! E represents -1 and H represents 2, so we compare -1 vs 2, not the letters themselves.

Q: Are negative numbers always smaller than positive numbers?

Yes! Any negative number is always less than any positive number. Think of it this way: -100 is still less than +1 because negatives represent values below zero.

Q: How do I remember which direction means 'less than'?

The symbol always points to the smaller number! Think of it like an arrow: \( -1 shows the arrow pointing from -1 toward the bigger number 2.

Q: What if both letters were negative numbers?

Compare them normally, but remember: the number closer to zero is larger. For example, -1 > -5 because -1 is closer to zero on the number line.

Number Line Comparison with Negative and Positive Values

Fill in the missing sign (?):

$E?H$

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Understand the problem

Fill in the missing sign (?):

$E?H$

Step-by-step solution

First, we need to locate the letters on the number line and determine which numbers they represent:

$E=-1$

$H=2$

Since the number 2 is positive and the number minus 1 is negative, the missing sign is as follows:

$-1<2$

Final Answer

$<$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Location: Find each letter's position and corresponding numerical value
Technique: E is at -1, H is at 2, so -1 < 2
Check: Verify negative numbers are always less than positive numbers ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Confusing position with value when comparing letters
Don't just look at which letter comes first alphabetically = wrong comparison! Letter position on the number line doesn't match alphabetical order. Always read the actual numerical values below each letter first.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

$$ 5 < -5 $$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

How do I know which number each letter represents?

Look directly below each letter on the number line to find its numerical value. The letters are just labels - what matters is the number underneath!

Why is E < H when E comes before H in the alphabet?

Alphabetical order has nothing to do with number line comparison! E represents -1 and H represents 2, so we compare -1 vs 2, not the letters themselves.

Are negative numbers always smaller than positive numbers?

Yes! Any negative number is always less than any positive number. Think of it this way: -100 is still less than +1 because negatives represent values below zero.

How do I remember which direction means 'less than'?

The symbol always points to the smaller number! Think of it like an arrow: $-1 < 2$ shows the arrow pointing from -1 toward the bigger number 2.

What if both letters were negative numbers?

Compare them normally, but remember: the number closer to zero is larger. For example, -1 > -5 because -1 is closer to zero on the number line.

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