Question

Complete the statement using \(>\) or \(<\). $$-2 \underline{?}-\frac{1}{2}$$

Short answer

-2 < -1/2

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Number Line

On a number line, numbers to the right are greater than those on the left. Positive numbers are to the right of zero, and the negative numbers are on the left. The larger the absolute value of a negative number, the smaller its actual value.

Compare -2 and -0.5

Since -2 is to the left of -0.5 on the number line, we can say that -2 is less than -0.5.

Fill in the symbol

The symbol for 'less than' is \(<\), so the correct completion of the statement should be '-2 < -1/2'.