Fill in the blank with < or >. 4______-5

Think of it this way:

Pretend the numbers are degrees of
temperatures.

Which is colder 4° of -5°?

-5° is colder than 4°

A colder temperature is a LOWER 
temperature.
A warmer temperature is a HIGHER 
temperature.

We must place < or > so that the 
smaller end faces the LOWER 
temperature, and the larger
side faces the HIGHER temperature.

Certainly you know that -5° is a LOWER 
temperature and that 4° is a HIGHER 
temperature.  So the big side of the
ineguality must be toward the HIGHER
temperature and the smaller side of
the inequality must be toward the
LOWER temperature, so it's

       4 > -5

Edwin