CHAPTER 3A

INEQUALITIES

PREPARED BY: DR NUR SYAMIMI MOHD RAZALI

BASIC IDEAS
 Statements that express the inequality of algebraic
expressions are called inequalities.

 The symbols that are used to express inequality are given

below with their meanings:

Signs Meaning Examples

< is less than x<1
> is greater than x>5
≤ is less than or equal to x≤3
≥ is greater than or equal to x ≥ -2
INTERVAL NOTATION
 Interval notation is a way to notate the range of
values that would make an inequality true.

Positive infinity (∞) means it goes on

and on indefinitely to the right of the number -
there is no endpoint on the right.

Negative infinity (- ∞) means it goes

on and on indefinitely to the left of the number -
there is no endpoint to the left.
 OPEN INTERVAL Number line
xa

a
We use an open circle (dot) to indicate that a is NOT part of the solution set.

xa

a
We use an open circle (dot) to indicate that a is NOT part of the solution set

Inequality Interval Notation for Open

Intervals
x>a (a, ∞ )
x<a (- ∞, a)
a<x<b (a, b)
-p < x < q (-p, q)
 EXAMPLE:
x2
1. 𝑥 > 2 (2 , ∞)
2

𝑥 < -5

2. 𝑥 < - 5 (-∞ , 5)
-5

1<𝑥<4

3. 1 < 𝑥 < 4 (1 , 4)
1 4

4. −3 < 𝑥 < 2 (-3 , 2)

-3 2
 CLOSED INTERVAL
xa

a
We use a closed circle (dot) to indicate that a is part of the solution set

xa

a
We use a closed circle (dot) to indicate that a IS part of the solution set

Inequality Interval Notation for Open

Intervals
x≥a [a, ∞ )
x≤a (-∞, a]
a≤x≤b [a, b]
-p ≤ x ≤ q [-p, q]
 EXAMPLE:
x2
1. 𝑥 ≥ 2 [2 , ∞)
2

𝑥 ≤ -5

2. 𝑥 ≤- 5 (-∞ , 5]
-5

1<𝑥<4

3. 1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤4 (1 , 4)
1 4

4. −3 ≤ 𝑥 < 2 (-3 , 2)
-3 2
SET BUILDER NOTATION
• A shorthand used to write sets, often sets with an infinite number
of elements.

Examples Set Builder Notation

Form
x<1 {x | x < 1}
x>5 {x | x > 5}
x≤3 {x | x ≤ 3}
x ≥ -2 {x | x ≥ -2}
1<x<3 {x | 1 < x < 3}
 INEQUALITIES PROPERTIES

Addition Subtraction Division Multiplication

Property Property Property Property

Transitive
Property
If a < 0 and b < 0, then ab > 0
If a < b and b
> c, then a < c
If a > 0 and b > 0, then a + b > 0

For a, b and c any real numbers

 ADDITION PROPERTY
 Adding the same number to the same number from, each side
of an inequality does not change the truth of the inequality.

Addition Property of Inequality

 For any real numbers a, b, and c:
If a > b, then a + c > b + c
c

b a b+c a+c

c
 SUBSTRACTION PROPERTY
 Subtracting the same number to the same number from, each
side of an inequality does not change the truth of the
inequality.

 For any real numbers a, b, and c:

If a > b, then a - c > b - c

b-c a-c b a

c
 MULTIPLICATION PROPERTY
 Multiplying each side of an inequality by a positive number does
not change the truth of the inequality

 However, multiplying each side of an inequality by a negative

number requires that the order of the inequality be reversed

 For any real numbers a, b, and c:

c is positive: If a  b, then ac  bc
If a  b, then ac  bc

If a  b, then ac  bc
c is negative:
If a  b, then ac  bc
 DIVISION PROPERTY
 Dividing each side of an inequality by a positive number does not
change the truth of the inequality

 However, dividing each side of an inequality by a negative

number requires that the order of the inequality be reversed

a b
If a  b, then 
c c
c is positive:
a b
If a  b, then 
c c

a b
If a  b, then 
c is negative:
c c
a b
If a  b, then 
c c
 SOLVING INEQUALITIES
The solution set of an inequality can also be described
by using set-builder notation

x4 set-builder notation

4
x | x  4
Read: { x “such that” x is less than 4 }
Identify the variable used
Describe the limitations or

boundary of the variable

 SOLVING INEQUALITIES
The solution set of an inequality can also be described by
using set-builder notation

x  7
set-builder notation
-7 x | x  7

Read: { x “such that” x is greater than or equal to negative 7 }

Identify the Describe the limitations or

variable used boundary of the variable

 SOLVING INEQUALITIES
 The solution set of an inequality can also be described by using interval
notation.
 The infinity symbols +∞ and - ∞ are used to indicate that a set is
unbounded in the positive or negative direction, respectively
 To indicate that an endpoint is not included in the solution set, a parenthesis,
( or ), is used.
x4 interval notation
 ,4
4
 To indicate that an endpoint is included in the solution set, a bracket, [ or ],
is used.
x  7
interval notation

-7  7,  
EXAMPLE:
1. -3x + 5 ≤ -16

Solution:
-3x + 5 - 5 ≤ -16 - 5 subtract 5 on both side

-3x ≤ -21

−3𝑥 −21
≤ divide by -3 on both side
−3 −3

x≥7
EXAMPLE:
2. 2x + 4 ≥ 20

Solution:
2x+ 4 – 4 ≥ 20 - 4 subtract 4 on both side

2x ≥ 16

2𝑥 16
≥ divide by 2 on both side
2 2

x≥8
EXAMPLE:
3. 5x - 2 < 13

Solution:
5x - 2 + 2 < 13 + 2 add 2 on both side

5x < 15

5𝑥 15
< divide by 5 on both side
5 5

x<3
EXAMPLE:
4. 6x - 7 > 2x + 17
Solution:
6x – 7 + 7 > 2x + 17 + 7
add 7 on both side

6x > 2x + 24

6x – 2x > 2x + 24 – 2x
subtract 2x on both side
4x > 24
4𝑥 24
>
4 4 divide by 2 on both side

x>6
EXAMPLE:
5. 2(x + 2) ≤ x - 5

Solution:
2x +4 ≤ x – 5
Subtract 4 on both side
2x +4 - 4 ≤ x – 5 – 4

2x ≤ x – 9 subtract x on both side

2x – x ≤ x – 9 - x

x≤-9
 COMPOUND INEQUALITIES
 If two simple inequalities with the connective “and” or “or”, we get a
compound inequalities

 Examples:
Compound Results Explanation Examples
inequalities
True AND True True The compound inequality is true 3 > 2 AND 3 < 5 = True
because both inequality are true
False AND False False The compound inequality is false 1 > 2 AND 6 > 7 = False
because both inequalities are false
True AND False False The compound inequality is false 2 < 3 AND 0 < -1 = False
because one of the statement is false
True OR True True The compound inequality is true 3 > 2 OR 3 < 5 = True
because both inequality are true
True OR False True The compound inequality is true one of 1 < 2 OR 6 > 7 = True
the statement is true
False OR False False The compound inequality is false 1 > 2 OR 6 > 7 = False
because both are false
 ABSOLUTE VALUE INEQUALITY
 Absolute value measures distance from 0 on a
number line

 | x | > 5 indicates x is more than 5 units from 0.

It can be to right of 5 and to the left of -5

 Therefore:
x > 5 or x < -5
BASIC ABSOLUTE VALUE INEQUALITIES (k > 0)

Absolute Equivalent Examples

Value Inequality
Inequality

|x|>k x > k or x < -k |x|>5 x > 5 or x < -5

|x|≥k x ≥ k or x ≤ -k |x|≥3 x ≥ 3 or x ≤ -3
|x|<k -k < x < k |x|<2 -2 < x < 2
|x|≤k -k ≤ x ≤ k |x|≤1 -1 ≤ x ≤ 1
|x|=k x = k or x = -k |x|=4 x = 4 or x = -4
 BASIC ABSOLUTE VALUE INEQUALITIES (k > 0)
Absolute Value Equivalent Inequality Examples
Inequality
| ax + b | > k ax + b > k or ax + b < -k | 2x + 1 | > 3

2x + 1 > 3 or 2x + 1 < -3
| ax + b | ≥ k ax + b ≥ k or ax + b ≤ -k | 2x + 2 | ≥ 4

2x + 2 ≥ 4 or 2x + 2 ≤ -4
| ax + b | < k -k < ax + b < k | 2x + 3 | < 6

-6 < 2x + 3 < 6
| ax + b | ≤ k -k ≤ ax + b ≤ k | 2x + 3 | ≤ 5

-5 ≤ 2x + 3 ≤ 5
| ax + b | = k ax + b = k or ax + b = -k | 2x + 2| = 4

2x + 2 = 4 or 2x + 2 = -4
TUTORIAL 1
Express the following inequalities in form of number line,
solution set of interval notation and solution set of set
builder notation.

1. x ≥ −3
2. -1 < x ≤ 4
3. 0≤x≤7
4. x>4
5. 3≤x<6
TUTORIAL 2
Solve the following inequalities. State the answer in form of solution set of
interval notation and set builder notation

1. x + 2 > 12 7. m - 6 > 14

2. 12 < x + 5 8. 12 > 18 – k
𝑢
3. 3y < 15 9. ≥3
5

4. -2y < -8 2
10. p + 4 > 10
3
𝑥 −3
5. < -5
2 11. 6x – 8 > x + 7
6 −2𝑥
6. -2 < <4 12. 2 (8 – p) ≤ 3 (p +7)
3
 TUTORIAL 3
1. Determine whether 5 satisfies each compound inequality:
(a) x < 6 and x < 9 (b) 2x – 9 ≤ 5 or -4x ≥ -12

2. Sketch the number line for the solution set to the

compound inequality x > 2 and x < 5. State x > 2 and x < 5
in set builder notation as well.

3. Sketch the graph and write the solution set in

interval notation to each compound inequality:
(a) x < 2 and x > 6 (b) x < 3 or x > 1
 TUTORIAL 4
1. Solve, write your answer in interval notation and graph the solution
set x -7 < -3
2. Solve, write your answer in interval notation and graph the solution
set x + 10 ≥ 5
3. Solve, write your answer in interval notation and graph the solution
set x/3 > 1
4. Solve, write your answer in interval notation and graph the solution
set –x/2 > 7
5. Solve, write your answer in interval notation and graph the solution
set 4(x+1) < 2x +3
TUTORIAL 5
Solve and graph the solution set for
the following inequalities:

1. | x – 2 | < 1

2. | 5 – x | ≤ 2

3. | 2x – 3 | > 5

4. | 4x – 2 | ≥ 10
THE END