Chapter 5 - Number Theory and the Real Number System - 5.2 The Integers; Order of Operations - Concept and Vocabulary Check - Page 269: 2

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RECALL: For any real numbers $a$ and $b$ on a number line, if $a$ is less than $b$, then $a$ is to the left of $b$. Thus, the missing expression in the given statement is: $\color{}{\text{left}}$