The lower sign (<) and the upper sign (>) are symbols used in mathematics, physics or computer science to represent order relationships between numbers, quantities or expressions. For example, we can write that 2 < 5 (2 is less than 5) or that x > y (x is greater than y).
But how to make these signs on a keyboard? There are several methods depending on the type of keyboard you use, your computer's operating system, or the software you write in. In this article, we will explain to you how to make the lower and upper sign on an AZERTY, QWERTY or HP keyboard, as well as in the main word processing or code editing software.
How to do the lower and upper sign on an AZERTY keyboard?
An AZERTY keyboard is a keyboard whose keys are arranged according to the French alphabet. This is the most common type of keyboard in France, Belgium or Morocco.
On an AZERTY keyboard, there is no key dedicated to the lower or upper symbol. To write them, you must use a key combination. Here are the different possibilities:
- Use the key next to the W: < (alone) or > (with the Shift key)
- Use the key combination Alt Gr + < for < or Alt Gr + > for >
- Use the key combination Alt + 60 (on the numeric keypad) for < or Alt + 62 (on the numeric keypad) for >
How to do the lesser and greater sign on a QWERTY keyboard?
A QWERTY keyboard is a keyboard whose keys are arranged according to the English alphabet. It is the most common type of keyboard in the world, especially in the United States, the United Kingdom or Canada.
On a QWERTY keyboard, there is a key dedicated to the bottom and top symbol. It is located at the bottom left of the keyboard, next to the Z. To write them, simply press this key: < (alone) or > (with the Shift key).
How to do the lower and upper sign on an HP keyboard?
An HP keyboard is a keyboard designed by the Hewlett-Packard brand for its laptop or desktop computers. It can be AZERTY or QWERTY depending on the country where it is sold.
On an HP keyboard, the method for writing the bottom and top symbol depends on the type of keyboard you have. If you have an AZERTY keyboard, you can use the same key combinations as described above. If you have a QWERTY keyboard, you can use the key dedicated to the lower and upper symbol located at the bottom left of the keyboard.
How to do the lesser and greater sign in word processing or code editing software?
Word processing or code editing software are programs that allow you to write text or computer code. Among the best known, we can cite Microsoft Word, Notepad++, Sublime Text or Visual Studio Code.
In these software, you can use the same methods described above to make the lesser and greater sign on your keyboard. However, there are also other ways to insert these symbols:
- Use the “Symbol Insertion” function in the “Insert” or “Edit” menu. You can then choose the lower or upper symbol from a list of special characters.
- Use the “Find and Replace” function in the “Edit” or “Find” menu. You can then type the HTML code for the lower or upper symbol and replace it with the symbol itself. For example, type < for < or > for >.
- Use the “Insert Equation” function in the “Insert” or “Display” menu. You can then write a mathematical expression with the lower or upper symbol. For example, type x < y for x < y.
Conclusion
You now know how to do the lower and upper sign on a keyboard, whether it is an AZERTY, QWERTY or HP keyboard. You also know how to insert these symbols into word processing or code editing software. These signs are useful for expressing order relationships between numbers, quantities or expressions. They are often used in mathematics, physics or computer science. For example, to write a mathematical formula with exponents or subscripts, you can use the keyboard shortcut “ctrl + M” in some software like Word or PowerPoint.
