2.

4 Inequality

For any two real numbers, a and b,

ab => a is less than b

ab => a is greater than b
ab => a is less than or equal to b
ab => a is greater than or equal to b

The Interval Notation

The double inequality a  x  b means x is greater than a (x  a ) and x is less than or equal to
b (x  b ) . This can be represented by the interval

(a , b = x a  x  b

Other examples:

(a , b ) = x a  x  b => The open interval from a → b

a , b = x a  x  b => The closed interval from a →b

The solution of an inequality consists of all values of the variable that make the inequality a
true statement.

Interval Inequality
Set Notation Real Number Line Type
Notation Notation

a , b a xb x a  x  b a b Closed

a , b) a xb x a  x  b a b Half-open

(a , b a xb x a  x  b a b Half-open
 (a , b) a xb x a  x  b a b Open

b , ) xb x x  b b Closed

(b , ) xb x x  b b Open

( , a xa x x  a a Closed

( , a) xa x x  a a Open

Theorem: Properties of Inequality

For any real numbers, a, b, and c

i) If a  b and b  c , then a  c .
ii) If a  b , then a + c  b + c .
iii) If a  b and c  d , then a + c  b + d .
iv) If a  b and c  0 , then ac  bc .
v) If a  b and c  0 , then ac  bc .
vi) If a and b are both (+ ) or both (−) and a  b , then
1 1
 .
a b

Note: these properties are also hold for  and  or if the inequality sign are reversed.
Solving Inequality
1. Linear Inequality

Example:

a) Solve 3(x + 4) − 3  x + 5 . Express the solution in terms of interval notation and illustrate
the solution on a real number line.

Solution:

3(x + 4) − 3  x + 5
3x + 12 − 3  x + 5
3x − x  5 − 9
2 x  −4
x  −2
Interval notation: (− 2 , ) Real number line:
-2

b) Find all the real numbers satisfying 2 x − 3  3 − 4 x  x + 8 . Give your answer in interval
notation.

Solution:

2x − 3  3 − 4x and 3 − 4x  x + 8
2x + 4x  3 + 3 x + 4x  3 − 8
6x  6 5x  −5
x 1 x  −1

-1 1

Inequality form: − 1  x  1

Interval notation: (− 1 , 1

Real number line:

-1 1

c) Solve the inequality 1 − 2 x  3x − 4  5 + 6 x .

Solution:
2. Nonlinear Inequality

Other types of inequalities are the quadratic and rational inequalities. In order to solve these
inequalities, the following steps can be used as guidelines.

Steps:

1) Simplifying the inequalities so that zero is on the right side.

2) Factorized the left side.
3) Set it to be equal to zero and solve for x.
4) Separate the solution(s) into intervals.
5) Choose a test number for each interval (different from x) and test for the plus (+ ) or
minus (−) signs.
6) Build a table and enter the intervals signs.
7) Check the original inequality for conformation.

Example:

a) Solve 4 x 2 + 4 x + 1  25 .

Solution:

4 x 2 + 4 x − 24  0

Step 1: x 2 + x − 6  0

Step 2: (x + 3)(x − 2)  0

Step 3: (x + 3)(x − 2) = 0

x+3= 0 , x−2 =0

x = −3 x=2

 x = −3, 2

Step 4: 2
 Step 5: Choose − 4, 0, 3 as the test numbers.

Step 6:

−3 2

x  −3 −3 x  2 x2

x+3 - + +

x−2 - - +

(x + 3)(x − 2) + - +

Step 7: Since (x + 3)(x − 2)  0 ; hence the solution are x  −3  x  2

Interval notation: (−  , − 3  2 , )

Real number line:

-3 2

b) Solve 3x(x + 1)  x + 5

Solution:
 x
c) Solve 2
x −3 Warning!!!

Solution:

x
Step 1: −20
x −3

x 2(x − 3) Wrong technique

− 0
x −3 x −3

x − 2x + 6
0
x −3

6− x
0
x −3

Step 2: Skip

6− x
Step 3: =0
x −3

6− x =0 , x −3 = 0

x=6 x=3

Step 4:

Step 5: Choose 0, 4, 7 as the test numbers.

Step 6:

3 6

x3 3 x 6 x6

6− x + + -

x −3 - + +

6− x
- + -
x−3
 6− x
Step 7: Since  0 ; hence the solution are x  3  x  6
x −3

Interval notation: (−  , 3)  6 , )

Real number line:

x 2 + 2x − 3
d) Solve for x; 0.
x −5

Solution:

Exercises 2.4

Solve each inequality

x( x − 2 )  x 2 −
1
1)
2
2) x(x + 2)  x + 2
3) (x −1)(x + 2)  0
4) (x −1)2  (3 − 2x)2
 1− 2x
5) 0
3− x
3− x
6) 0
x2 − x
x
7) 3
2− x
x+3
8) 1
2x −1
3x 5
9) 
x+5 2
1 1
10) 
2x − 1 x + 2

Answers:

6) (0 , 1)  3 , )
1
1) (−∞ ,  4]

 3
2) (− 2 , 1) 7)  −  ,   (2 ,  )
 2

 1
3) − 4 , 3 8)  −  ,   4 ,  )
 2

4 
4)  , 2 9) (−  , 25
3 

1 
5)  , 3 
2 