194k views
1 vote
Give two numbers that fit this description: a number is less than another number but has a greater absolute value?

1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

To satisfy the condition of one number being less than another but having a greater absolute value, we can use negative numbers like -5 and 3, where -5 is less than 3, but its absolute value is greater.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find two numbers where one is less than the other but has a greater absolute value, consider negative numbers. Absolute value is the distance a number is from zero, regardless of direction on a number line. Therefore, a negative number can have a greater absolute value than a positive number while still being less than it.

Example:

Consider -5 and 3. In this case, -5 is less than 3, but the absolute value of -5 (which is 5) is greater than the absolute value of 3 (which is 3). So, the numbers -5 and 3 perfectly fit the description.

In inequality symbol form, the comparison is -5 < 3 but |-5| > |3|.

User Shuttsy
by
8.2k points