# ...
$res = 0;

{
  local ($number1, $number2)=($number1, $number2);  # localize the values
	
  $number1 =~ s/\..*//;
  $number2 =~ s/\..*//;
  $number1 =~ tr/$,//d;
  $number2 =~ tr/$,//d;

  # returns -1, 0 or 1, depending upon comparison
  $result = $number1 <=> $number2;
}
# $number1 and $number2 revert to original values when scope is exited

# why duplicate this thrice?
print "Content-type: text/html\n\n";
print "$number1 is ". ( ($result==0) ? 'equal to' :
                        ($result <0) ? 'less than' :
                                       'greater than' ) ." $number2\n";

##</code><code>##

print "$number1 is ".
        ('equal to', 'greater than', 'less than')[$result]
        ." $number2\n";