<P> The greater - than sign is a mathematical symbol that denotes an inequality between two values . The widely adopted form of two equal - length strokes connecting in an acute angle at the right,>, has been found in documents dated as far back as the 1560s . In typical mathematical usage, the greater - than sign is typically placed between the two values being compared and signals that the first number is greater than the second number . Examples of typical usage include 11⁄2> 1 and 1> − 2 . Since the development of computer programming languages, the greater - than sign and the less - than sign have been repurposed for a range of uses and operations . </P> <P> The symbols <and> first appear in Artis Analyticae Praxis ad Aequationes Algebraicas Resolvendas (The Analytical Arts Applied to Solving Algebraic Equations) by Thomas Harriot (1560--1621), which was published posthumously in 1631 . The text states: "Signum majoritatis ut a> b significet a majorem quam b" and "Signum minoritatis ut a <b significet a minorem quam b ." </P> <P> According to historian Art Johnson (page 144), while Harriot was surveying North America, he saw a Native American with a symbol that resembled the greater - than sign both backwards and forwards (> and <). Johnson says it is likely he developed the two symbols from this symbol . </P>

Who invented the greater than and less than sign