Final answer:
A mechanical advantage less than one means that the machine outputs a smaller force than the input force, often trading force for increased distance or speed.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the mechanical advantage is less than one, it means that the output force of a machine is smaller than the input force. The concept of mechanical advantage is central to understanding how machines work. It is the number of times the input force applied to a machine is multiplied to produce an output force. In cases where the mechanical advantage is less than one, the machine is not increasing the force but may be increasing the distance over which that force is applied, leading to a trade-off between force and distance.