SOLUTION: If a debt of $5 is greater than a debt of $2 than shouldn't -5>-2 ?

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Question 59892: If a debt of $5 is greater than a debt of $2 than shouldn't -5>-2 ?
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If a debt of $5 is greater than a debt of $2 than shouldn't -5>-2 ?
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"greater than" can be defined geometrically using a number line.
A certain number is "greater than" another number if it is to the
right of the other number.
Thus -5 is not "greater than" -2.
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Algebraically a is greater than b if a-b>0
Thus -2 is greater than -5 because -2--5=3 is > zero
Cheers,
Stan H.