The symbol "<" is commonly called the "less than sign". Its spelling in English uses the phonemes /lɛs/ for "less" and /ðən/ for "than", pronounced as "less thən". The symbol is used to indicate that one value is smaller or lower than another. The less than sign is widely used in mathematics, computer science, and programming languages to represent inequalities, comparisons, and Boolean expressions. Its origins can be traced back to the mathematical symbols used in ancient Greece and Rome.
The less than sign, represented by the symbol <, is a character commonly used in mathematics and computer programming as a relational operator. It is used to compare two values to determine their relationship in terms of magnitude or precedence.
In mathematics, the less than sign denotes that the value on the left side of the sign is numerically smaller or lesser than the value on the right side. For example, if 4 < 5, it means that the value 4 is lesser than 5. This symbol is essential when performing operations such as ordering numbers and creating mathematical inequalities.
Similarly, in computer programming, the less than sign is used to compare two values, such as numbers, variables, or even strings in some programming languages. It returns a boolean value: true if the value on the left side is less than the value on the right side, and false otherwise. For instance, if x < 10, it evaluates to true only if the value of x is less than 10.
In logical expressions, the less than sign may also represent the less than or equal to operator (<=), where it determines whether the value on the left is less than or equal to the value on the right. This operator includes both true and false as possible results. For example, if y <= 5, it evaluates to true if y is less than or equal to 5.