"An inequality is similar to an equation. There are two expressions separated by a symbol that indicates how one expression is related to the other. In an equation such as 7x = 49, the = sign indicates that the expressions are equivalent. In an inequality, such as 7x > 49, the > sign indicates that the left side is larger than the right side.
To solve the inequality 7x > 49, we follow the same rules that we did for equations. In this case, divide both sides by 7 so that x > 7. This means that x is a value and it is always larger than 7, and never equal to or less than 7.
The "less than" symbol (<) may also be seen in inequalities. " To remember this, we have the "Alligator rule". The alligator wants to eat the bigger number, therefore his mouth is open to the 10 and not the 5: 5

If the number on the left were smaller, the alligator head would face the other way, as in this picture.
3

Another symbol is the "not equal" sign

