Meaning of inequality symbols Interpret the mathematical relations A < B and A > B. What do these symbols indicate about the relative values of A and B?

Introduction / Context:
Inequality symbols are foundational in mathematics, programming, and engineering specifications. They appear in constraints, comparator logic, sorting, and conditional branching. A clear understanding prevents logic errors and misinterpretations in formulas and code.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Two quantities: A and B (numbers, variables, or expressions).
• Standard mathematical meaning of inequality symbols.
• No special domain-specific overloading is assumed.

Concept / Approach:
The symbol “<” reads “is less than,” and the symbol “>” reads “is greater than.” Thus A < B places A to the left of B on the number line, while A > B places A to the right of B. These relations are strict (not equal). Non-strict relations use “≤” or “≥”.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Example: with A = 3 and B = 5, 3 < 5 is true, while 3 > 5 is false. Swapping values (A = 7, B = 2) reverses truth values accordingly.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Options A and B invert the meanings, contradicting standard mathematical definitions.

Common Pitfalls:
Mixing up “<” and “>” in compound conditions, and confusing strict versus non-strict inequalities, especially when handling boundary cases in algorithms.

Final Answer:
A < B means A is less than B. A > B means A is greater than B.