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.
