INEQUALITIES

Example Solve for x: 12 2x > 4

Solution
2x > 4 12
2x > 8
Divide by 2, and reverse the inequality sign.
x > 4.

Example Solve for x: < 1
6 2
Solution
Multiply both sides by 6.
x 3x < 6
2x < 6
Divide by 2, and reverse the inequality sign.
x > 3

Example Solve for x: 108x < 15(6x + 12)

Solution
108x < 90x + 180
18x < 180
x < 10

Example Solve for a: 4a 9 > 9a 24

Solution
4a 9a > 9 24
5a > 15
Divide by 5, and reverse the inequality sign.
a<3
Example Solve for z: 6z + 1 3(z 2)
Solution
6z + 1 3z 6
6z 3z 1 6
3z 7
7
z .
3

Example If x > y and x, y, and z are positive numbers, which of the

following is not necessarily true?

(A) x + z > y + z

(B) >

(C) x z > y z

(D) >


(E) >1

Solution The correct answer is (D).
If x > y, in (A), (B), and (C), we are adding, dividing, and subtracting z
from both sides of the inequality; none of these operations affects the
inequality when z is a positive number. In (E), since x > y and they are
both positive numbers, must be greater than 1. In (D), we wrote the
reciprocal of the two fractions in (B), and this changes the inequality.
Example If 5x = 4t, 6y = 5t and t > 0, then
(A) x > y
(B) y > x
(C) x = y
(D) x = y
(E) Comparison of x and y cannot be determined from the information
given.

Solution The correct answer is (B).

4 5
5x = 4t = , 6y = 5t =
5 6
5 4
Since t > 0 and > , we get: y > x
6 5

Example If t > 1 and t increases, which of the following decreases?

1
(A)
2
(B) t 2
(C) t2 4
(D) 2t 1
(E) 2t 2

Solution The correct answer is (A).

(B), (C), (D), and (E) all show increases as t increases when t > 1. In
(A), t is in the denominator, and decreases as t increases beyond 1.
Example Find the solution set of the inequality |x + 3| < 5.

Solution
|x + 3| < 5 5 < x + 3 < 5
5 3< x < 5 3
8< x < 2
The solution set consists of 1 interval: 8< x < 2.

Example Find the solution set of 2x2 x 3 < 0, where x is a real

number.
Solution (2x 3) (x + 1) < 0

Thus, 1< x < 1.5

 + 1
Example What are all p such that 1?

(A) p > 0
(B) p < 0
(C) p 0
(D) 1 < p < 0
(E) 1 p < 0
Solution
1 1
1+ 1 0 < 0.

1
Example If log x log 2 + log x, then
2
(A) x 2
(B) x 2
(C) x 4
(D) x 4
(E) x 1
Solution (D)
1
log x log x log 2
2
1
log x log 2
2
log x log 2
log x log 22
log x log 4
x 4