Properties of inequalities

Just as we use the symbol = to represent is equal to, we also

use the symbols < and > to represent is less than and is
greater than, respectively. Thus various statements of
inequality can be made:
a<b means a is less than b.
a< b means a is less than or equal to b.
a>b means a is greater than b.
a>b means a is greater than or equal to b.

The following
7+8 > 10
-4 >-6 7-9
7-1 < 20
8(-3) < 5(-3)

are examples of numerical statements of inequality:

-4 + (-6) > -10
< -2
3+4
>12
7-1
<0

Notice that only 3+4 >12 and 7-1 < 0 are false; the other six are true
numerical statements.

Algebraic inequalities contain one or more variables. The

following are examples of algebraic inequalities:
X+4>8
(x-2)(x+4)>0

3x + 2y < 4
x22 + y22 + z22 < 16

An algebraic inequality such as x+4 > 8 is neither true nor false

as it stands and is called an open sentence. For each numerical
value substituted for x, the algebraic inequality x + 4 > 8
becomes a numerical statement of inequality that is true or false.
Solving an algebraic inequality refers to the process of finding
the numbers that make it a true numerical statement. Such
numbers are called the solutions of the inequality and are said to
satisfy it.
The general process for solving inequalities closely parallels that
for solving equations. We repeatedly replace the given inequality
with equivalent but simpler inequalities until the solution set is
obvious.

Properties of Inequalities
1)For all real numbers a,b, and c,
a > b if and only if a+ c > b + c
2)For all real numbers a, b, and c, with c > 0,
a > b if and only if ac > bc
3)For all real numbers a,b, and c, with c < 0,
a > b if and only if ac < bc.

Similar properties exist if > is replaced by <, <, or >. Part 1 of

property 1.4 is commonly called the addition property of
inequality. Parts 2 and part 3 together make up the
multiplication property of inequality.
Pay attention to part 3, if both sides of an inequality are
multiplied by a negative number, the inequality symbol must be
reversed.

Example:
1)

3(2x-1) < 8x 7.
6x 3 < 8x -7
-2x -3 < -7
-2x < -4
(-1/2)(-2x) > (-1/2)(-4)
x>2

Checking the solutions of

an inequality presents a
problem. Obviously, we
cannot check all of the
infinitely many solutions
for a particular inequality.
However, by checking at
least one solution,
especially when the
multiplication property
has been used, we might
catch a mistake of
forgetting to reverse the
inequality.

Interval Notation
It is also convenient to express solution sets of inequalities by
using interval notation. For example, the symbol (2, +) refers to
the interval of all real numbers greater than 2. [2, +) for the
meantime refers to the interval of all real numbers greater than
or equal to 2.

Example:
Solve the following:
1)(-3x +1)/2 > 4

2) [(x-4)/6] [(x-2)/9] < 5/18

Compound Statements

We use the words and and or in mathematics to form

compound statements. The following are examples of some
compound numerical statements that use and.

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

3+4=7
-3 < -2
6>5 and
4<2 and
-3 + 2 =1

and
-4 < -3
and
-6 > -10
-4 < -8
False
0< 10
False
and
5+4 = 8

True
True

False

We call such statements conjunctions. We agree to call a

conjuction true only if all of its components parts are true.
Statements 1 and 2 are true, while the rest are false.

We call compound statements that use or disjunctions. The

following are some examples of disjunctions. The following are
some examples of disjunctions that involve numerical
statements.

1)
2)
3)
4)

0.14 > 0.13

>
-2/3 > 1/3
2/5 < -2/5

A disjunction is
In other words,
parts are false.
9 is false.

or
or
or
or

0.235 < 0.237

-4 + (-3) = 10
(0.4)(0.3) = 0.12
7 + (-9) = 16

True
True
True
False

true if at least one of its component parts is true.

disjunctions are false only if all of the component
In the statements above, 6, 7, and 8 are true, but

Example
Graph the solution set for the conjunction x > -1 and x <3.
The key word is and, so we need to satisfy both inequalities. Thus all
numbers between -1 and 3 are solutions, and we can indicate this
on a number line as well.
Using interval notation, we can represent the interval enclosed in
parentheses in Figure 1.15 by (-1,3). Using set-builder notation,
we can express the same interval as {x| -1 < x < 3}, where the
statement -1 < x <3 is read negative one is less than x and x is
less than three. In other words, x is between -1 and 3.

Example
Solve
1) -2 < (3x + 2)/2 < 7.

The word and ties the concept of a conjunction to the set

concept of intersection. In a like manner, the word or links the
idea of a disjunction to the set concept of union.

Example
Graph the solution set for the disjunction x < -1 or x > 2, and
express using the interval notation.
Solution
The key word is or, so all numbers that satisfy either inequality
(or both) are solutions. Thus all numbers less than -1, along with
all numbers greater than 2, are the solutions. Using interval
notation and the set concept of union, we can express the solution
set as (-, -1) U (2, ).

Quadratic Inequalities

The equation ax22 + bx + c = 0 has been referred to as the

standard form of a quadratic equation in one variable. Similarly,
the form ax22 + bx + c < 0 is used to represent a quadratic
inequality. (The symbol < can be replaced by >, <, or > to
produce other forms of quadratic inequalities.)
The number line can be used to help solve quadratic inequalities
where the quadratic polynomial is factorable.

Example:
Solve
1) x2 + x 6 < 0.
Numbers where the given polynomial or algebraic expression
equals zero or is undefined, are referred to as critical numbers.

Example:
Solve
1) 6x2 + 17x 14 > 0.

Quotients and Absolute Value

Equations

The same type of number-line analysis that we did in the

previous section can be used for indicated quotients as well as
for indicated products. In other words, inequalities such as:
(x-2)/(x+3) > 0
Can be solved very efficiently using the same basic approach
that we used with quadratic inequalities in the previous section.

Example:
Solve

1) (x-2)/(x+3) > 0
2) (x+2)/(x+4) < 3

For any real number k > 0,

|x| = k if and only if x = k or x = -k.

Example:
Solve
1) |3x -2 | = 7
2) |3x -1| = |x + 4|
For any real number k > 0,
|x| < k if and only if k < x < k

Example:
Solve
1) |2x + 1| < 5
2) |-3x -2| < 6

For any real number k > 0,

|x| > k if and only if x < -k or x > k.

Example:
Solve
1) |4x - 3| > 9
2) |-2 - x| > 9
3) |(x-2)/(x+3)| < 4