Final answer:
The symbols '<' and '>' are used in mathematics to represent inequalities, indicating that one value is less than or greater than another. They are essential for expressing relationships between numbers and are also used in statistical hypotheses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The symbols < and > are used to represent inequality in mathematics. These symbols illustrate the relationship between two values, indicating that one value is less than or greater than the other, respectively. When you see x < y, it means that x is less than y, and when you see x > y, it indicates that x is greater than y. A number line is often used to visualize these inequalities, with an open circle to represent the value that is not included in the inequality and a filled-in circle for a value that is included when the inequality is either ≤ or ≥.
In addition, inequalities are essential in forming alternative hypotheses in statistics, often denoted with H or H₁, which employ these symbols to express a statement that is to be tested against the null hypothesis.