Ch 2- Solving Equations and Inequalities

R.K.Sahi

Austin Peay State University

sahir@apsu.edu

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 Section 2-6
Solving Inequalities Algebraically and Graphically

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Topics

Use properties of inequalities to solve linear inequalities.

Solve polynomial inequalities.

Solve inequalities involving absolute values.

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Properties of Inequalities

The inequality symbols

<, ≤, >, and ≥

were used to compare two numbers and to denote subsets of real
numbers. For example: x ≤ −5

In this section, we will study inequalities that contain more involved

statements such as
2x − 3 ≤ x − 1
and

−4 ≤ x − 3 ≤ 1

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Properties of Inequalities (cont.)

Solve an inequality in the variable x, by finding all values of x for

which the inequality is true.

These values are solutions of the inequality and are said to satisfy the
inequality. For instance: 2 is a solution to 2x − 3 ≤ x − 1.

On the other hand, the number 5 is not a solution because

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Properties of Inequalities (cont.)

The set of all real numbers that are solutions of an inequality is the
solution set of the inequality.

The set of all points on the real number line that represent the
solution set is the graph of the inequality. Graphs of many types of
inequalities consist of intervals on the real number line.

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Properties of Inequalities
The properties given below describe operations that can be used to create
equivalent inequalities.

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Properties of Inequalities (cont.)

Each of the properties are true when the symbol < is replaced by ≤ and >
is replaced by ≥. For instance, another form of Property 3 is as follows.

a ≤b → a+c ≤b+c

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Examples: Solve and Graph a Linear Inequality

Solve: 2x − 3 ≤ x − 1
2x − 3 ≤ x − 1
2x − x ≤ −1 + 3
x ≤2

The solution set is all real numbers that are less than or equal to 8, which
is denoted by (−∞, 2].
The graph of this solution set is shown below.

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Examples: Solve and Graph a Linear Inequality

Solve: −3 ≤ 8x − 5 < 2
−3 ≤ 8x − 5 < 2
2 ≤ 8x < 7
2 7
8 ≤x < 8
1 7
4 ≤x < 8

The solution set is given by [ 14 , 78 ).

The graph of this solution set is shown below.

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Inequalities involving Absolute Values

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Examples: Solve and Graph a Linear Inequality of Absolute
Values

Solve: |3x | ≤ 4
|3x | ≤ 4
−4 ≤ 3x ≤ 4
−4 4
3 ≤x ≤ 3

The solution set is given by [ −4 4

3 , 3 ].

The graph of this solution set is shown below.

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Examples: Solve and Graph a Linear Inequality of Absolute
Values (cont.)

Solve: |x + 6| > 7
|x + 6| > 7
x + 6 > 7 or x + 6 < −7
x > 1 or x < −13

The solution set is given by (−∞, −13) ∪ (1, ∞).

The graph of this solution set is shown below.

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Examples: Solve and Graph a Linear Inequality of Absolute
Values (cont.)

Solve: 10|1 − x | > 20

10|1 − x | > 20
|1 − x | > 2
1 − x > 2 or 1 − x < −2
−x > 1 or − x < −3
x < 1 or x < 3

The solution set is given by (−∞, 1) ∪ (3, ∞).

The graph of this solution set is shown below.

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