if condition error: integer expression expected

Shell Programming and Scripting
1

I am trying to run following condition with both variables having numeric values "1,2,3"

     if [ '$NEW_STATE' -gt '$OLD_STATE' ];

when i run it i get following error:


     $NEW_STATE: integer expression expected

Please correct me where I'm doing wrong.

I'm trying to check either New State is greater or Old state. I have also tried "" for variables. but still not working.

                                                                                                               [IMG]http://lqcdn.thequestionsnetwork.net/questions/images/icons/useragent/icon\_windows_7.gif[/IMG]           [IMG]http://lqcdn.thequestionsnetwork.net/questions/images/statusicon/forum_new.gif[/IMG]                                                                        [[IMG]http://lqcdn.thequestionsnetwork.net/questions/images/buttons/report.gif[/IMG]](http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/report.php?p=4655513)