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

All negative numbers appear on the number line to the left of the number 0.

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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