Inequality

Comparison of two values or expressions.

a and b are any value or expression.

Wavy Curve
A curve in wave form.

The + and - sign is used to show the nature of

the curve.
Wavy Curve Method
An easy method used to find the interval of solution for an inequality.
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How this helpful?
Procedure to draw Wavy curve

Where are the natural

numbers and are the
real numbers.
Procedure to draw Wavy curve

Step-0:

Ensure that the leading coefficient of x in the simplified

expression is positive.

RHS must be zero

Procedure to draw Wavy curve

Step-1: Find the critical points of the inequality by

considering the expression equal to zero. Say,
are the critical points.
Step-2: Draw a number line and mark the critical points on it.
Step-3: Draw a wave curve or positive/negative
sign according to the mentioned conditions.

I. Start from the rightmost top corner and

draw a wavy curve to the rightmost point.
II. If the power of the expression of the critical
point is even then the wavy curve jumps
back to the same side and if the power is
odd the curve travels to the opposite side.
Step-4: Take the interval of positive sign if the
expression is greater than zero and the interval of
negative sign if the expression is less than zero.

Step-5: The interval is with closed bracket if

inequality is . It is with opened bracket
if inequality is > or <.
Q. Find the solution of inequality .
Q. Find the solution of inequality .

Solution

The critical points for the inequality are, As the expression is greater than and
equal to 0, the positive intervals will be
considered. So,
Draw the wavy curve for the points.

The intervals are,

Q. Find the solution of inequality .
Q. Find the solution of inequality .

Solution

The critical points for the inequality are, As the expression is smaller than and
equal to 0, the negative intervals will be
considered. So,
Draw the wavy curve for the points.

The intervals are,

Q. Find the solution of inequality .
Q. Find the solution of inequality .

Solution
The critical points for the inequality are, As the expression is greater than 0, the
positive intervals will be considered. So,

Draw the wavy curve for the points.

The intervals are,

Points to Remember
● The inequality having expressions on both sides or a number on one side will be
simplified to the standard form having expression on left side and 0 on right side.

● The solution of inequality of rational expression does not include the points where
the denominator becomes zero, even if the inequality is of the form .

● The modulus function will behave like a even power expression in terms of sign in
wavy curve.
Q. The set of values of x for which ,

A B C D
Q. The set of values of x for which ,

A B C D

Solution
The intervals are,
As the expression is less than 0, the negative
intervals will be considered and -1 will not be
included. So,

The critical points for the inequality are,

Draw the wavy curve for the points.

Q. The set of values of x for which ,

A B C D
Q. The set of values of x for which ,

A B C D

Solution
The critical points for the inequality are,
Draw the wavy curve for the points.

The intervals are,

As the expression is less than and equal to 0, the negative
intervals will be considered and will not be included. So,
Q. The set of values of x for which ,

A B C D
 Q. The set of values of x for which ,

A B C D

Solution
Draw the wavy curve for the points.

The intervals are,

As the expression is less than and equal to 0, the

negative intervals will be considered and, -2.5 and
The critical points for the inequality are, -3 will not be included. So,
Q. Find the values of x for which ,

A B C D
Q. Find the values of x for which ,

A B C D

Solution
The critical points for the inequality are,
Draw the wavy curve for the points.
As the expression is greater than and
equal to 0, the positive intervals will be
considered. So,

The intervals are,

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