5174396
Five cities recorded these low temperatures on a winter day: \(3\,^\circ\text{F}\), \(-7\,^\circ\text{F}\), \(0\,^\circ\text{F}\), \(-2\,^\circ\text{F}\), and \(-12\,^\circ\text{F}\).
Order the temperatures from coldest to warmest using \(<\).
Hints
- Picture the temperatures on a thermometer.
- Which temperature is farthest below zero?
- Where does zero belong relative to the negative temperatures?
Solution
1. Among the negative temperatures, the value farther left on a number line is colder: \(-12<-7<-2\).
2. Zero is greater than every negative number, and \(3\) is greater than zero.
3. Therefore, \(-12<-7<-2<0<3\).
Answer
\(-12\,^\circ\text{F}<-7\,^\circ\text{F}<-2\,^\circ\text{F}<0\,^\circ\text{F}<3\,^\circ\text{F}\)
