Comparing numbers means determining which number is greater, smaller, or if they are equal. To do this, you use inequality symbols like <, >, or =. Let's break this down:
- '<' means 'less than.'
- '>' means 'greater than.'
- '=' means 'equal to.'
For example, when comparing 0 and 17, there are a few steps you can follow:
- Visualize or draw a number line to see the position of the numbers.
- Note that 0 is to the left of 17 on the number line.
- Since 0 is to the left, it is less than 17, so we use the '<' symbol.
Therefore, the correct comparison is 0 < 17. This step-by-step approach helps ensure that you correctly determine the relationship between numbers.