1.

7: Linear and Absolute Value Inequalities

Note:
We can sort of think of anything with an “=” as being an equality, and any statement comparing two
values as an inequality.

We know that there are five inequality cases:

Symbol: How to read the symbol: How to graph on a number line:

≠ not equal to an open circle
< less than open circle or ) with arrow left
> greater than open circle or ( with arrow right
< less than or equal to closed circle or ] with arrow left
> greater than or equal to closed circle or [ with arrow right

Examples-
Proper Notations, Including number line graphs, Linear Inequalities

Double inequalities (range of data inclusive)

a) Open Interval (-4, 6)
b) Closed Interval [ -2, 5 ]
c) Half- Open, lower end
colored between]
d) Half- Open, upper end
colored between)
{x| -4 < x < 6 } (open circles on -4 and 6, line colored between)
{x| -2 < x < 5 } [closed circles on -2 and 5, line colored between]
( 1, 7 ] {x| 1 < x < 7 } (open circle at -2, closed at 5, line
[ -8, -2) {x| -8 < x < -2} [closed circle at -8, open at -2, line

Single inequalities (range up to or starting at limit)

a) Open with infinity, x is greater than (3, ∞) {x| x > 3} (open circle at 3, colored in arrow right)
b) Half-Open with infinity, x is greater than or equal to [-4, ∞) {x| x > -4} [closed circle at -4,
colored in arrow right)
c) Open with negative infinity, x is less than (-∞, 0) {x| x < 0} (open circle at zero, colored in
arrow left)
d) Half-Open with negative infinity, x is less than or equal to (-∞, 8] {x| x < 8} []Closed circle
at eight, colored in arrow left()
You may find that it helps to think that if there is a line in the inequality, we use a bracket, which is a
straight line, and if not, we use the curve of the parentheses.

Objective: Use interval Notation-

(See above, PowerPoint Quotes below)
The open interval (a,b) represents the set of real numbers between, but not including, a and b.

The closed interval [a,b] represents the set of real numbers between, and including, a and b.
Parentheses indicate endpoints that are not included in an interval. Square brackets indicate
endpoints that are included in an interval. Parentheses are always used with positive or negative
infinity..

Objective: Find intersections and unions of intervals

Steps:
1) Graph each interval on a number line
2) a) to find the intersection, take the portion of the number line that the two graphs have in common
b) to find the union, take the portion of the number line representing the total collection of numbers in
the two graphs
(Union “U,” Intersection “∩”)
Objective: Solve linear inequalities
Solving Linear Inequalities:

For the most part a simple linear inequality is solved using the same rules as a linear equation.
There is one major exception. When multiplying or dividing by a negative to isolate the variable, the
inequality is flipped.

For example, if -2x < 8, then x > -4

Let’s practice:
a) y – 18 < -5 add 18 to both sides y < 13

b) (2m – 5)/-3 > 1

multiply both sides by -3, since it is negative, flip the sign 2m – 5 < -3
add 5 to both sides 2m < 2
divide by 2 m<1

c) Let f(x) = 5 – 2x and g(x) = 6 – 7x. Find all values of x for which f(x) > g(x).
5 – 2x > 6 – 7x
We can go either way, but I’d like a positive variable.
Add 7x to both sides and subtract 5:
5x > 1
Divide by 5: x > 1/5 or x > 0.2

Objective: Solve compound inequalities

(Additional Union and Intersection information)
Two inequalities joined by the word “and” or the word “or” are called - compound inequalities (the
assumption being that this is how we read/translate from algebra to English.

A conjunction is a compound sentence formed using the word “and.”

A disjunction is a compound sentence formed using the word “or.”
The solution to a conjunction is the intersection of the solution sets for the individual sentences
(elements common to both sets, the middle of a Venn diagram, “∩”, goes with the word “and”).

The solution to a disjunction is the union if the solution sets ( elements in at least one set, all of a Venn
diagram or, in fact, two disjoined circles, “U”, goes with the word “or”).

Proper Notations, Including graphing, Compound Inequalities

Intersections and Conjunctions-

a) Given a pair of sets, any shared values make up the intersection.

Therefore, given {3, 8, 20, 24} ∩ {2, 3, 8, 15}, {3, 8}

b) Let’s look at Example 2 from the old 105 text to see how conjunctions work-
In this case, we look for the shared or overlapping values of number line graphs:

Notice that the intervals of the two inequalities in the conjunction actually provide the solution- the first
has a boundary at -2, the second a boundary at 1. The solution is therefore between -2 and 1.

c) Let’s try to use this to our advantage, and find a conjunction without graphing:
-4 < x and x < 7
The conjunction is {x| -4 < x < 7}, or [-4, 7]

Unions and Disjunctions

a) Given a pair of sets, any value from either set make up the union.
Therefore, given {3, 8, 20, 24} U {2, 3, 8, 15}, {2, 3, 8, 15, 20, 24}
b) Example 7 from the old 105 shows a disjunction

Notice that there is no way to write the solution as a single interval since the “or” indicates that there
are two inequalities heading in opposite directions.

c) Special Case: y > -2 or -y > 3

We must use the rules for dealing with negative division
y > -2 or y < -3 This means that only the values from -3 to -2 are NOT included in the solution.
(-∞, -3) U (-2, ∞) or {y| y < -3 or y > -2}

Solving Compound Inequalities

For the most part, solving is unchanged, but we must keep in mind that sometimes we will have an
interval solution and other times we will have two opposing inequalities.

a) -2 < 3t + 1 and 2t – 5 < 7

We look at each inequality…
-3 < 3t and 2t < 12
Therefore,
-1 < t and t < 6; {t| -1 < t < 6}

b) -8 < 5x – 7 < 3 we must add 7 to all three sections to keep things balanced
-1 < 5x < 10
-1/5 < x < 2 {x| -0.2 < x < 2}

a) f(x) < -1 or f(x) > 8, where f(x) = 3 – x

3 – x < -1 or 3–x>8
-x < -4 or -x > 5
x>4 or x < -5
(-∞, -5) or (4, ∞)
 Bonus topic:
Interval Notation and Domains:

Recall that sometimes there are values that cannot work for a function- for example, the
denominator of a Rational Expression can never be zero.

5
Therefore, given , x can be any real number except zero.
x

We can therefore express the domain as {x| x is a real number and x ≠ 0} (-∞,0) U (0, ∞)

How about when there is a full expression in the denominator?

5 x +4
Set the denominator equal to zero and solve; 2x – 8 = 0, 2x = 8, x = 4
2 x−8

Therefore, 4 is the only value that x cannot be.

Domain: {x| x is a real number and x ≠ 4} (-∞, 4) U (4, ∞)

Additional Examples:

1) Conjunction: (Number 67) a + 3 < -2 and 3a – 4 < 8

a < -5 and 3a < 12
a < -5 and a < 4
Everything from -5 left overlaps, therefore the conjunction is {x| x < -5} (-∞, -5)

2) Disjunction: (Number 64) g(x) < -2 or g(x) > 10, where g(x) = 3x – 5
3x – 5 < -2 or 3x – 5 > 10
3x < 3 or 3x > 15
x < 1 or x > 5 {x| x < 1 or x > 5} (-∞, 1] U [5, ∞)

Special Case: x + 7 < -2 or x + 7 > -3

x < -9 or x > -10 Since these overlap, the solution is actually ALL REAL NUMBERS.
(-∞, ∞)

Objective: Solve absolute value inequalities

Vocabulary Review from 1.6:
Absolute Value Principle-
The three cases used to determine solutions for |x| = (solving for the possible value(s) of x)
There are technically five cases in total:
1. The solutions of |X| = a are those numbers that satisfy X = a or X = -a.

2. The equation |X| = 0 is equivalent to the equation X = 0.

3. The equation |X| = -a has no solution.

4. The solutions of |X| < a are those numbers that satisfy -a < X < a.

5. The solutions of |X| > a are those numbers that satisfy X < -a or a < X.

Note from the old text:

“Simply ignoring the absolute value symbol and solving the resulting equation or inequality will not lead
to the correct solution.
|x| = p corresponds to two equations
|x| < p corresponds to a conjunction.
|x| > p corresponds to a disjunction.”

Examples-

Solving Inequalities

Essentially, the process is the same as for Equations. Remember to flip the inequality if you multiply or
divide by a negative!
*Special Rule For –p: If |x| > -p, x = all real numbers, but if |x|< -p, there is no solution

a) |y| < 9
-9 < y < 9 [-9, 9]

b) | x + 3 | + 2 > 7
|x + 3| > 5
x + 3 < -5 or 5<x+3
x < -8 or 2<x x < -8 or x > 2 (-∞, -8) U (2,∞)

c) 12 + 4| a + 2 | < 28
4|a + 2| < 16
|a + 2| < 4
-4 < a + 2 < 4 -6 < a < 2 (-6, 2)

Special Case; Dealing with zero:

|a| > 0 a < 0 or 0 < a a ≠ 0, otherwise, all real numbers (-∞, 0) U (0, ∞)
|a| < 0 0<a<0 No solution
|a| > 0 a < 0 or 0 < a
Since zero is included, a = All Real Numbers (-∞, ∞)
|a| < 0 0<a<0 a=0

Additional Examples:
d) |a – 4| < 0 No Solution
e) |3x + 4| > -10 All real numbers
f) |2x| < 0 x=0

From the PowerPoint: