Last updated on July 22nd, 2025
When two quantities are different, we represent them using the "not equal" or "not equal to" sign. The "not equal sign (≠)" can be used to indicate inequality when two values are not equal. In this article, we will be discussing the “not equal” symbol and its applications.
The not equal sign (≠) is used to indicate the inequality of two quantities. For example, if a and b have different values, then we can write a ≠ b. This sign provides a concise representation of inequality between two quantities.
The not equal sign (≠) is used to show the relation between two unequal quantities.
For example:
5 + 4 ≠ 6 → because 5 + 4 equals 9 and not 6.
x ≠ y → This means the value of x is not equal to the value of y.
“Not equal to” has several practical applications. Let’s see how “not equal to” applies to real-life scenarios:
Not equal is an important sign that shows two quantities are different. However, students often make mistakes when using this sign. Here are a few common mistakes and tips to avoid them:
Jerry scored 65 marks in Math, and Annie scored 76 marks. Can we say their scores are not equal?
Yes, we can say that their scores are not equal.
Jerry scored 65 marks and Annie scored 76 marks. 65 and 76 are different. So we conclude that 65 ≠ 76.
Is a ≠ b? Given: a = 11 and b = 25
a ≠ b
a has a value of 11 and b has a value of 25. Since 11 is not equal to 25, a ≠ b.
Is 32 not equal to 56?
No
Yes, 32 and 56 are different numbers.
So,
32 ≠ 56
A child writes: 6 + 2 ≠ 8 Is this correct?
No.
6 + 2 = 8, so using the ≠ sign here is incorrect.
Correct form: 6 + 2 = 8
There are 40 and 35 chocolates in each of the two boxes. Can we say the number of chocolates in both boxes is not the same?
Yes, the number of chocolates in both boxes is not equal.
Yes, 40 ≠ 35
So, the number of chocolates is not equal.
Hiralee Lalitkumar Makwana has almost two years of teaching experience. She is a number ninja as she loves numbers. Her interest in numbers can be seen in the way she cracks math puzzles and hidden patterns.
: She loves to read number jokes and games.