Question

One fish is 4 feet below sea level. Another fish is 3 feet below sea level. Write position as an integer. Which integer is greater?

Answer 1

4 feet *below* sea level, so position is -4 (ft)
3 feet *below* sea level, so position is -3 (ft).
the greater integer is the one that correspond to a higher elevation, namely the one at -3 ft elevation.

In general, when
- both integers are negative, the greater integer is the one with a smaller number (-4 is greater than -5)
- two integers have different signs, the positive number is the greater integer. (2 is greater than -100)
- both integers are positive, we look for the greater number (6 is greater than 2)