QA – Inequalities

Inequalities
Is an algebraic expression separated by any sign other than ”=”. So the signs can be:
a) >
b) <
c)
d)
e)

Linear Situation
(a) If x > y, then (x + a) > (y + a)
(b) If x > y, then (x – a) > (y – a)
(c) If x > y, then ax > ay (if a is positive) or ax < ay (if a is negative)
(d) If x > y, then x/a > y/a (if a is positive) or x/a < y/a (If a is negative)
(e) If x > y, then 1/x < 1/y (If both x and y are of same signs) or else 1/x > 1/y.
(f) Square of any real quantity ≥ 0
(g) If ab>0, then a and b are either both positive or both negative.
(h) If ab<0, then a and b are of opposite signs, i.e., either a>0 and b<0 or a<0 and b>0.

Absolute Value
(a) If ǀxǀ < a, then –a < x < a
Say ǀxǀ < 7, then the actual value of x should lie between –7 and +7
(b) If ǀxǀ > a, then x < –a and x > a
Say ǀxǀ >7, then the actual value of x should be less than –7 and more than +7

(c) |x - a| < b => a-b < x < a+b

|x - a| > b => x < a-b or a > a+b

(d) |x| + |y| ≥ |x + y|

|x| - |y| ≤ |x - y|
|x| |y| = |x y|

Quadratic Situation
(a) If (x – a)(x – b) < 0, then b < x < a
Say, (x – 4)(x – 11) > 0,
Product of two numbers is positive.
So either both are positive or both are negative.
Either (x – 4) > 0 and (x – 11) > 0 i.e. either x > 4 and x > 11
Or (x – 4) < 0 and (x – 11) < 0 i.e. x < 4 and x < 11
Therefore x < 4 and x > 11

(b) If (x – a)(x – b) > 0, then x < b and x > a

Say, (x – 4)(x – 11) < 0
Product of two numbers is negative.
So one of them is negative
Either (x – 4) > 0 and (x – 11) < 0 i.e. either x > 4 and x < 11
Or (x – 4) < 0 and (x – 11) > 0 i.e. x < 4 and x > 11.

Proprietary and Confidential ABS Classes 1

QA – Inequalities

Therefore 4 < x < 11.

General Situation
Say, (x – 1) (x – 2) (x – 3) (x – 4) > 0
Or (x – 1) (x – 2) (x – 3) (x – 4) < 0

Let us do this with the help of an example:

i) (x – 3) (x – 5) (x – 7) (x – 9) > 0
ii) (x – 3) (x – 5) (x – 7) (x – 9) < 0
In such cases we need to identify ranges of x. we will do that in the following way.
The numbers are 3, 5, 7 and 9
So we will check the values of x for
a) X < 3
b) 3<x<5
c) 5<x<7
d) 7<x<9
e) X>9
When x<3, then all of them are negative therefore product will be positive
When 3<x<5, then the first term is positive, rest three are negative, therefore product is
negative
When 5<x<7, then the first 2 terms are positive and the rest 2 are negative so the
product is positive
When 7<x<9, then the first 3 terms are positive and the last term is negative
When x>9, then all terms are positive and the product is positive
So we can see for
(x – 3) (x – 5) (x – 7) (x – 9) > 0
X<3 or 5<x<7 or x>9
When (x – 3) (x – 5) (x – 7) (x – 9) < 0
3<x<5 or 7<x<9

LIST OF IMPORTANT FORMULAE

 For logax: x > 0 & a > 0 (a ≠ 1)
When a > 1: logax > logat => x >
t When 0 < a < 1: logax > logat => x < t

 For all x ≥ 1, we have:

2 ≤ (x + )x < e, where e = 2.718

 (a12 + a22 + a32 + … an2)x(b12 + b22 + b32 + … bn2) ≥ (a1. b1 + a2. b2 + a3. b3 + … an. bn)2 .
The equality holds if a1/b1 = a2/b2 = … = an/bn

 If ax + by = constant, then xp * yq is maximum if ax/p = by/q (where a, b, p, q are real

numbers)

 If xp * yq = constant, then ax + by is minimum if ax/p = by/q (where a, b, p, q are real

numbers)

Proprietary and Confidential ABS Classes 2