Ch2:

Inequalities

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 Inequalities
• In previous lecture, we have seen →
w2 + 8w = 2900, h = –16t2 + 800t , 3x - 2y = 8
• However, some problems in algebra lead to
inequalities instead of equations.
• The place of the equal sign is one of the
symbols <, >, ≥, ≤
For example :

9x2 + 4 ≤ 0 3x – 2 < 0 7x – 2 > 0

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• Here is an example of an inequality in the one variable x:
4x + 7 ≤ 19
• The table in the margin shows that some numbers satisfy the
inequality and some numbers do not.

• To solve an inequality that contains a variable means to find

all values of the variable that make the inequality true.
• Unlike an equation, an inequality generally has infinitely
many solutions, which form an interval or a union of intervals
on the real line.

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 Intervals Notation
Geometric Representation
Interval Notation Set Notation
on a Number Line

( a, b ) a<x<b

[ a, b ) a<x<b

( a, b ] a<x<b

[ a, b ] a<x<b

Geometric Representation
Interval Notation Set Notation
on a Number Line

( a,  ) a<x

[ a,  ) a<x

( - , a ) x<a

( - , a ] x<a
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 Solving Inequalities
To solve inequalities, we use the following
rules to isolate the variable on one side
of the inequality sign.

– These rules tell us when two inequalities

are equivalent (  means “is equivalent to”).

– In these rules, the symbols A, B, and C stand

for real numbers or algebraic expressions
(referring to table next slide) 5
 Solving Inequalities
Here, we state the rules for inequalities
involving the symbol ≤.
– However, they apply to all four inequality symbols.

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 Solving Inequalities
Pay special attention to Rules 3 and 4.
– Rule 3 says that we can multiply (or divide) each side
of an inequality by a positive number.

– However, Rule 4 says that, if we multiply each

side of an inequality by a negative number, then we
reverse the direction of the inequality.

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 Solving Inequalities
For example, if we start with the inequality
3<5

and multiply by 2, we get:

6 < 10

– However, if we multiply by –2, we get:

–6 > –10

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 Linear Inequalities
An inequality is linear if:

– Each term is constant or a multiple

of the variable.

– To solve a linear inequality, we

isolate the variable on one side
of the inequality sign.

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 Linear Inequalities
An inequality is linear if:

– Each term is constant or a multiple

of the variable.

– To solve a linear inequality, we

isolate the variable on one side
of the inequality sign.

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E.g. 1—Solving a Linear Inequality
Solve the inequality

3x < 9x + 4

and sketch the solution set.

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 E.g. 1—Solving a Linear Inequality
3x < 9x + 4 (Given inequality)
3x – 9x < 9x + 4 – 9x (Subtract 9x)
–6x < 4 (Simplify)
(–1/6)(–6x) > (–1/6)(4) (Multiply by –1/6 or
divide by –6)
x > –2/3 (Simplify)

– The solution set consists of all numbers

greater than –2/3.

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E.g. 1—Solving a Linear Inequality

In other words, the solution of

the inequality is the interval (–2/3, ∞).

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 Should we try ?

Solve and graph :

2(2x + 3) – 10 < 6(x - 2)

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 Solving Linear Inequality
Eg 2: Solve and graph : • 4x – 6x < 6x – 8 – 6x

2(2x + 3) – 10 < 6(x - 2) • - 2x < -8

• 2(2x + 3) – 10 < 6(x - 2) • X > 4 or (4,∞)

• 4x + 6 – 10 < 6(x - 2) Notice that when we

divide by a –ve no., we
• 4x – 4 < 6x - 12 reversed the inequality
symbol
• 4x – 4 + 4 < 6x – 12 + 4

• 4x < 6x – 8

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Solving Linear Inequality Involving Fractions

Eg 3: Solve the inequality

𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 𝟒𝒙
+𝟔≥𝟐+
𝟒 𝟑

Solution on board 16
 E.g. 4—Solving a Pair of Simultaneous
Inequalities
Solve the inequalities
4 ≤ 3x – 2 < 13

–The solution set consists of all values of x

that satisfy both of the inequalities

4 ≤ 3x – 2 and 3x – 2 < 13
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 E.g. 4—Solving a Pair of Simultaneous
Inequalities
Using Rules 1 and 3, we see that
these inequalities are equivalent:

4 ≤ 3x – 2 < 13 (Given inequality)

6 ≤ 3x < 15 (Add 2)

2≤x<5 (Divide by 3)

Therefore, the solution set is [2, 5)

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 Solving Nonlinear Inequalities
Guidelines for solving an inequality that
can be factored are as follow:

1. Move all terms to one side.

2. Factor.
3. Find the intervals.
4. Make a table or diagram.
5. Solve.

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 Guideline 1 for Solving Nonlinear
Inequalities
Move all terms to one side.
– If necessary, rewrite the inequality so that
all nonzero terms appear on one side of
the inequality sign.

– If the nonzero side of the inequality involves

quotients, bring them to a common denominator.

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 Guideline 2 for Solving Nonlinear
Inequalities
Factor.

– Factor the nonzero side of the inequality.

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 Guideline 3 for Solving Nonlinear
Inequalities
Find the intervals.
– Determine the values for which each factor is zero.

– These numbers will divide the real line into

intervals.

– List the intervals determined by these numbers.

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 Guideline 4 for Solving Nonlinear
Inequalities
Make a table or diagram.
– Use test values to make a table or diagram
of the signs of each factor on each interval.

– In the last row of the table, determine the sign

of the product (or quotient) of these factors.

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 Guideline 5 for Solving Nonlinear
Inequalities
Solve.
– Determine the solution of the inequality from
the last row of the sign table.

– Be sure to check whether the inequality is satisfied

by some or all of the endpoints of the intervals.

– This may happen if the inequality involves ≤ or ≥.

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E.g. 5—Solving a Quadratic Inequality
GUIDELINES:
Solve the inequality 1.
2.
Move all terms to one side.
Factor.
3. Find the intervals.

x2 ≤ 5x – 6 4.
5.
Make a table or diagram.
Solve.

– First, we move all the terms to the left-hand side

x2 ≤ 5x – 6
x2 – 5x + 6 ≤ 0

– Factoring the left side of the inequality, we get

(x – 2)(x – 3) ≤ 0

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 Eg 5—A Quadratic Inequality
➢The factors of the left-hand side are
x – 2 and x – 3.
❑These factors are zero when x is 2 and 3,
respectively.
❑As shown, the numbers 2 and 3 divide the real line
into three intervals: (-∞, 2), (2, 3), (3, ∞)

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 Eg 5—A Quadratic Inequality
On each interval, we determine the signs of the factors
using test values.
❑We choose a number inside each interval
and check the sign of the factors x – 2 and x – 3
at the value selected.
❑For instance, let’s use the test value
x = 1 for the interval (-∞, 2).

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 Eg 5—A Quadratic Inequality
Then, substitution in the factors x – 2
and x – 3 gives:
x – 2 = 1 – 2 = –1 < 0
and
x – 3 = 1 – 3 = –2 < 0

– So, both factors are negative on this interval.

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 Eg 5—A Quadratic Inequality
Using the test values x = 2½ and x = 4 for the intervals
(2, 3) and (3, ∞), respectively, we construct the following
sign table:

The final row is obtained from the fact that the

expression in the last row is the product of the two
factors.
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 Eg 5—A Quadratic Inequality
If you prefer, you can represent that
information on a real number line—as
in this sign diagram.
– The vertical lines indicate the points at which
the real line is divided into intervals.

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 Eg 5—A Quadratic Inequality
We read from the table or the diagram that
(x – 2)(x – 3) is negative on the interval (2, 3).

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 Eg 5—A Quadratic Inequality
Thus, the solution of the inequality
(x – 2)(x – 3) ≤ 0 is:
{x | 2 ≤ x ≤ 3} = [2, 3]

– We have included the endpoints 2 and 3

because we seek values of x such that
the product is either less than or equal to zero.

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 Eg 5—A Quadratic Inequality
The solution is illustrated here.

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 Rational Inequalities
• Find the solution set for
𝟑𝟎
𝒙+𝟐>
𝒙+𝟏

Solution on board 34
 Rational Inequalities
• Find the solution set for

𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2
2
≥0
𝑥 − 16

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