Question

Complete the statement using \(>\) or \(<\). \(-3 \underline{?}-5\)

Short answer

-3 > -5

Step-by-step solution

Understand the comparison

First understand that we are trying to compare two numbers: -3 and -5. The question asks whether -3 is greater than or less than -5.

Compare the numbers

On the number line, numbers to the right are greater than numbers to the left. Negative numbers are to the left of zero on the number line. The closer a negative number is to zero, the greater it is. Thus, -3 is to the right of -5, making -3 greater than -5.

Fill in the blank

Now that we have identified -3 is greater than -5, we can fill the blank with the appropriate symbol, which is '>'. So the completed statement is -3 > -5.