NAVAL BASE SECONDARY SCHOOL

MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT
Sec 2G3 Mathematics
Chapter 2: Linear Inequalities
Notes

Name: ________________________________ ( ) Class: _________ Date: ___________

2.1 Simple inequalities

Objectives: At the end of the lessons, students should be able to

• identify linear inequalities and differentiate between an equation and an inequality

Fill in the meanings of the notations given in the table below.

Notation Meaning

a>b

a<b

ab

ab

2.2 Solving simple linear inequalities

Objectives: At the end of the lessons, students should be able to

• solve simple inequalities and represent the solutions on the number line

For an inequalities with an unknown x, all values of x that satisfy the inequality are called the
solutions of the inequalities.

“To solve an inequalities” means to find all the solutions that satisfy the inequality.

Consider the inequality x  7 .

x = 3 is a solution of the inequality as 3  7 .
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Similarly, x = −5, 0, 6 and 6.9 are solutions of the inequality too.
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So how do we represent these solutions on the number line?

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Representing inequalities on a number line

Inequalities can be expressed in Number Lines.

A hollow circle at the beginning of the arrow means 3 is not included.

A solid circle at the beginning of the arrow means 3 is included.

x3 x3 x3

3 3 3

Example 1

Represent each of the following on a number line.

(a) x>3

2 3 4

(b) x≤6

5 6 7

Practice 1

Represent each of the following on a number line.

(a) x ≥ –5

Note:
(b) x < –2
• The direction of arrowhead
• Shaded of non-shaded
circles
• Placement of numbers

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Example 2

Show each of the following on a number line.

(a) –2 ≤ x ≤ 4

–2 0 2 4

(b) –4 ≤ x < 3

–4 –2 0 2 4

Practice 2

Show each of the following on a number line.

(a) –8 < x ≤ –1

(b) –4 < x < 5

Solving Linear Inequalities

Prerequisites
A) Solving linear equations
Solve the following equations.
(a) 3 y + 5 = 17 (b) 1 − 2 y = 11

B) Integers, Prime Numbers, Perfect Squares

(a) State all integers between –5 to 5.

(b) State all prime numbers that are less than 20.

(c) State all perfect squares smaller or equal to 100.

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Learning Experience 1

In this learning experience, we shall explore some properties of inequalities

Inequality Direction of inequality

6 12
6 < 12 sign (same/ reversed)
Add 3 9 15 9 < 15 same

Subtract 3

Multiply by 3

Divide by 3

Add (–3)

Subtract (–3)

Multiply by (–3)

Divide by (–3)

Conclusion:
1. When we ADD or SUBTRACT a positive or a negative number on both sides of an
inequality, the inequality sign will/ will not* change (reverse) direction.

2. When we MULTIPLY or DIVIDE by a positive number on both sides of an inequality,

the inequality sign will/ will not* change (reverse) direction.

3. When we MULTIPLY or DIVIDE by a negative number on both sides of an inequality,

the inequality sign will/ will not* change (reverse) direction.

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RULES FOR INEQUALITIES

Given that ab and ab

When c > 0 (positive), When c > 0 (positive),
a+c b+c (same) a+c b+c
a−c  b−c (same) a−c  b−c
ac  bc (same) ac  bc
a b a b
 (same) 
c c c c

When c < 0 (negative), When c < 0 (negative),

a+c b+c (same) a+c b+c
a−c  b−c (same) a−c  b−c
ac  bc (reversed) ac  bc
a b a b
 (reversed) 
c c c c

Example 3

Solve the inequalities and represent the solution set on a number line.

(a) m+2<8 (b) q – 3 ≥ –6

m<8–2 q ≥ –6 + 3
m<6 q ≥ –3

5 6 7 –4 –3 –2

Practice 3

Solve the inequalities and represent the solution set on a number line.

(a) p + 5 ≤ –4 (b) n–3>2

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Example 4

Solve the following inequalities.

d
(a) 5p ≤ 65 (b) –2e ≤ –82 (c) − 2
3
65 −82 −d
p e 2
5 −2 3
p  13 e  41 −d  2  3
6
d
−1
d  −6

Practice 4

Solve the following inequalities.

2r
(a) 3q ≥ –6 (b) –6h ≥ –42 (c) −  −2
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Example 5

(a) Solve − 4 x  −49 .

−49
x
−4
1
x  12 ( or x  12.25 )
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(b) Find the largest prime number which satisfies − 4 x  −49 .

x = 11

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Practice 5

(a) Solve 5 ( b − 3)  3 ( b + 5 ) .

(b) Given that 5 ( b − 3)  3 ( b + 5 ) , state the largest possible value of x if

(i) x is an integer,
(ii) x is a prime number.

2.3 Solving problems involving linear inequalities

Objectives: At the end of the lessons, students should be able to

• apply inequalities to solve real-world problems

Example 6

The maximum load that a small trolley can carry is 42kg. If the mass of each carton of goods is 5kg,
(a) form a linear inequality, and
(b) find the maximum numbers of cartons the trolley can carry at any one time.

(a) Let x be the number of cartons

5x  42

42
(b) x
5
x  8.4 The trolley can carry a maximum of 8 cartons
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Practice 6a

A bowl of congee contains 70g of carbohydrate. Suppose the daily minimum carbohydrate
requirement for a man is 130g and he only eats congee for the whole day,
(a) form a linear inequality, and
(b) find the minimum number of bowls of congee that the man should eat to meet the minimum
daily carbohydrate requirement.

Practice 6b

The operating cost of a gymnasium is $12 000 a month. The monthly fee of each member of the
gymnasium is $70.
(a) Form a linear inequality.
(b) Find the minimum number of members required such that the gymnasium can make a profit
each month.

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 HOMEWORK WORKSHEET 1

2.1 Simple inequalities

2.2 Solving simple linear inequalities

Complete the following questions on foolscap.

Compulsory Questions
Question 1
Textbook 2A (pg 41): Exercise 2A Q1(a), (c), (e)

Question 2
Textbook 2A (pg 41): Exercise 2A Q2(a), (c), (h)

Question 3
Textbook 2A (pg 41): Exercise 2A Q3(b)

Question 4
Textbook 2A (pg 41): Exercise 2A Q4(c)

Question 5
Textbook 2A (pg 41): Exercise 2A Q6(c)

Question 6
Find the smallest perfect square x such that 6x > 49.
[Woodgrove Secondary School]

Optional Question
Question 7

Question 8
Textbook 2A (pg 41): Exercise 2A Q7(c)
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 HOMEWORK WORKSHEET 2

2.3 Solving problems involving linear inequalities

Complete the following questions on foolscap.

Compulsory Questions
Question 1
Textbook 2A (pg 44): Exercise 2B Q1

Question 2
Textbook 2A (pg 44): Exercise 2B Q3

Question 3
Textbook 2A (pg 44): Exercise 2B Q4

Optional Question
Textbook 2A (pg 44): Exercise 2B Q6

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