CHAPTER 8 Inequalities In this chapter you will learn how to: «= solve simple linear inequalities in one variable «© represent solution sets on a number line » solve linear inequalities in two variables and find the solution set. You will also be challenged to: * investigate mathematical symbols. Starter: Treasure hunt Here is a map of Treasure Istand. The pirates have buried ther treasure at a place where the x and » coordinates are whole numbers. Use the clues to work ‘out where the treasure is buried, aoe cane Mouiaios o 3 + ¢ 7 ” a Clue 1: xis greater than 5, Clue 2: ys greater than 6. Clue3: ‘One of xand y is prime, and the other isnot. Clue 4; and y add up to 16, 1298.1 Whole-number solutions to inequalities Inequalities are similar, in many ways, to equations. Simple inequality problems with whole number (integer) solutions may be solved at sight, but you will need ‘to.use algebraic and graphical methods for dealing with harder problems where the solutions need not be integers. In this chapter you will be working with these four symbols < less than > greater than = less than or equal to = greater than or equal to For example, x < 3 would be read as ‘x is ess than 3°. y > 6 would be read 1s ‘y is greater than or equal to 6°. The narrow end of the symbol points to the smaller quantity. EXAMPLE Write down whole-number solutions to these inequalities axes bss 9 3<2<10 ‘This means that zcan equal 3 but not equal 10, SOLUTION lies from 3 up to but not including 10. J a) 6,7,8,9, 10,0. eee b) 202 3,4,5.6 ~ Dots indicate that the number pattem 9) 345,670.89 | Gets youd thes pres Sova EXAMPLE Find the whole-number solutions to these inequalities: a) 2e>5 b) 3y=6 9 352<10 @) S<3r-1<14 Solution a) e>S Dividing both sides by 2, we obtain > 2. Since. has tobe a whole number, the possible values are 3, » a6 Dividing bth sides by 3, we obtain y= 2. “The whole-number solutions ae 9) 3=22<10 Dividing through by 2, we obtain 1) = z <5, ‘The integer solutions are 2,3 and 4 @ $<3r-1<14 ‘Adding | throughout, we obtain 6 < 3x < 15 Dividing through by 3, we obiain 2 3 2m>s ay<4 4y<7 s010 Is7">1 17 14> 300 18 10<2¢<20 19 98=r+ 159 —314 3i+<13 464x<10-x Soe-s in one single inequality EXAMPLE Solve the inequality 6 + x < 13 and illustrate the solution with @ number line diagram, “The solid line shows thax can take any value below 7...) SOLUTION 6+x<13 ae r25 133In questions 11 to 20, solve each inequality and then illustrate it witha line diagram, MStx<19 Rw-2=13 13 20-x>10 dsr +4519 I 2e+1SSe- 1 Bay 1 Lachya a) Illustrate these inequalities on a graph, shading the region that satisfies all four inequalities. Label your region R. 'b) The point P lies inthe region R. The coordinates of Pare integers. Write down the coordinates of P 134SOLUTION VY OQ ? a tt — fenaltes ‘cordate ie i below the line (yx means the ‘y coordinates are ‘greater than if they were on the line y = x, so the region is above the line “x < 3 means the x coordinates lie to the let ofthe line x = 3 x> 1 means the “x coordinates lie tw the right of | the line x = 1 b) P lies within the region Rand» hs integer coordinates: ‘Thus Pis at 2,3) a 2 4 a 135EXERCISE 8.4 For each of questions 1 to S, draw a coordinate grid in which x and y ean range from 0 to 10. 1 Draw the graphs of these straight lines x=2x=5,y=Ly=x Hence shade the region R corresponding tothe inequalities: XE Ux lyse 2. Draw the graphs ofthese straight lines: xe2yaQyehyaxnd Hence shade the region R corresponding tothe inequalities: x>2y>2ychyran 1 3 Draw the graphs ofthese straight lines: Hence shade the region R corresponding tothe inequalities: x<9y> Ty Se 4 Shade the region R corresponding to the inequalities: x>BxeTy> La ty <0 '5 Shade the region R corresponding tothe inequalities: xPOy>Lysxtdxty <8 66 The diagram shows a region R bounded by thre straight lines, L, Ly and Ly 10: L te oe ie a) Write down the equations ofthe three straight lines, L,, L, and L;. Show clearly which equation applies to whieh line b) Write down three inequalities that define the region R. 1368.5 Quadratic inequalities Sometimes you may need to simplify a quadratic inequality, such as 2° <9. By taking the square root of both sides, the solution might seem to be x= 3, ‘This is fine for positive values of x, and also for negative values of x provided they are not too far below zero, However, if. is substantially negative, the original inequality can fail. For ‘example, ifx = ~4, then x? = 16 which is now greater than 9, Clearly we need tw restrict the negative values ofthe solution so thatx does not become any lower than ~3. ‘The result is that the solution consists of 0 x = 3 for positive values of x and —3 12 1) Draw a diagram to illustrate the solution on « number line 137SOLUTION a) Since x? +3 > 12, thenx? > 9 “Taking square roots, we obtain x > 3 for positive values of x and x < —3 for negative values of x ‘Remember that the open So the solution isx < ~3orx>3 CEST iste BD) Onva aumaber lines included in the solution —o a es EXERCISE 8.5 Solve, algebraically, these inequalities. 13 <25, 2e 16 4eed s847671 6e<49 Tye ld Bar <49 Solve these inequalities. Illustrate each one on a number line. oe4acs we+1>s0 22s ness REVIEW EXERCISE 8 Find whol-number solutions to thes inequa 1o<2<7 21<3y<27 38<2<18 45<241<20 8 -3<2-1<1 62a- Lae 1b). Mark on your diagram, with a cross, each ofthe points where P could lie. 22. a) ~2.—2andy 1 1) Wiite down the smallest integer value of» which satisfies the inequality aytael [Bdexeel 13925 The line wth equation 6y + Se = 15 is drawn on the grid below. fi t | fi f 8) Rearrange the equation 6y + x = 15 to make y the subject. bb) The point (~21, k) les onthe line, Find the value of k. ©) (@ Onacopy of the grid, shade the region of points whose coordinates satisfy the four inequalities: YEOx> 0,203, 67+ 5x<15 Label this region R. Pisa point inthe region R. The coordinates of P are both integers. (i) Write down the coordinates of P. [eaexcel] 26 a) (A) Solve the inequality Sx ~7-<2s~ 1 (Gi) Copy this number line, and use it to represent the solution set to pat). a es eee ‘isan imtoger such that —4 = 2n<3 bb) Write down the possible values of, [Edexcel] 27 a) Solve the inequality x? > 36 b) Copy this number line, and use it to represent the solution set of the inequality ° > 36 rs —o 8 6 4 2 0 2 4 6 F WF 28 Solve the inequality 2° = 100 29 Solve the inequality ° <9 [kaexcel] 30 a) Solve the inequality 2° <4 ) Copy this number line, and use it to represent the solution set of the inequality x? = 4 [edexcel] 140Key points 1 Inequalities may be manipulated using many of the methods applicable to ordinary equations. The solution to an inequality is usually @ range of values, rather than just a single value. For example, the solution to x + 1 < 16isx <3 Itis best to avoid multiplying or dividing an inequality by a neg: since this causes the direction of the inequality to reverse. number, Solutions to inequalities in one variable may be shown on a number line, using a ‘thermometer diagram’. For example, to represent —1 100 does not ust lead toy > 10; at the lower end we also have y < ~ 10 so the solution set now consists of two separate (but symmetric) regions. You should revisit Section 8.5 carefully if you are not entirely sure about this. “1