Welcome to

Linear Inequalities
Key Takeaways

Definition:

• Two real numbers or two algebraic expressions related by

the symbol < , > , ≤ or ≥ form an inequality.

Example:

• 7>4

• 𝑦+𝑥 ≥0

• 𝑥<9
Key Takeaways

Types of inequalities:

• Numerical inequality: • Strict inequality:

Inequalities which do not involve Inequalities which involve symbols < or >
variables
Example: • 3<5
Example: • 3<5
• 𝑥>1
• 2 ≥ −1

• Literal inequality: • Slack inequality:

Inequalities which involve variables Inequalities which involve symbols ≤ or ≥
Example:
• 𝑥>4 Example: • 𝑥−𝑦 ≥0

• 𝑦 ≤ −2 • 𝑦 ≤ −2

• 2𝑥 + 5 > 7
Key Takeaways

Linear inequality:

• It is an inequality which involves a linear function.

Example: • 2𝑥 + 7 < 3
• 𝑥 − 3𝑦 ≤ 7

• Linear inequality in one variable:

Example: • 𝑥 < −5
• 3𝑥 + 9 ≥ −1

• Linear inequality in two variables:

Example: • 𝑥 + 4𝑦 > 8
• 𝑦 − 5𝑥 ≤ −2
Solution of a Linear inequality:

• The value(s) of the variable(s) which make the inequality a true statement
is called its solution.

• The set of all solutions of the inequality is called its solution set..

Example:
𝑖) Solution set of 𝑥 − 1 ≥ 0:
𝑥 ∈ 1, ∞

1
𝑖𝑖) Solution set of 𝑥 + 2 < 0: 𝑥 ∈ −∞, −2

−2
Key Takeaways

Rules for solving an inequality:

• Equal numbers may be added to (or subtracted from) both sides of an

inequality without affecting the sides of inequality.

Example:
𝑥−5>8

Adding 5 on both sides,

⇒𝑥−5+5>8+5

⇒ 𝑥 > 13
Key Takeaways

Rules for solving an inequality:

• Both sides of an inequality can be multiplied (or divided) by the same

positive number.

But when both sides are multiplied (or divided) by a negative number,
then the sign of inequality is reversed.

Explanation:
−2 < 1 On multiplying by −𝑣𝑒 sign, ⇒ 2 > −1
Example:
𝑖) 3𝑥 ≥ 60 𝑖𝑖) − 4𝑥 < 15

Divide by 3 on both sides, Divide by −4 on both sides,

𝑥 ≥ 20 𝑥>−
!"
#
Solve: 5𝑥 − 3 > 3𝑥 + 1

5𝑥 − 3 > 3𝑥 + 1 On adding 3 to both sides

⇒ 5𝑥 > 3𝑥 + 4 , on subtracting 3𝑥 from both sides

⇒ 5𝑥 − 3𝑥 > 3𝑥 − 3𝑥 + 4

⇒ 2𝑥 > 4 , dividing by 2 on both sides

⇒𝑥>2
 !"#$ $
Solve: ≤ −5
% &

"$%& &
≤ (−5 On multiplying by 6 on both sides
'

⇒ 2 5 − 2𝑥 ≤ 𝑥 − 30

⇒ 10 − 4𝑥 ≤ 𝑥 − 30 , subtracting (𝑥 − 30) from both the sides

⇒ 40 − 5𝑥 ≤ 0 , multiplying by −ve sign

⇒ 5𝑥 − 40 ≥ 0 , adding 40 both the sides

⇒ 5𝑥 ≥ 40 , dividing by 5 on both sides

⇒𝑥≥8
• If 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℝ ( 𝑏 ≠ 0), then
)
𝑖 𝑎𝑏 > 0 or > 0 ⇒ 𝑎 & 𝑏 are of same sign.
*

)
𝑖𝑖 𝑎𝑏 < 0 or < 0 ⇒ 𝑎 & 𝑏 are of opposite sign.
*
Solve the inequality: (2𝑥 − 5)(3𝑥 + 1) > 0

(2𝑥 − 5)(3𝑥 + 1) > 0 𝑎𝑏 > 0 ⇒ 𝑎 & 𝑏 are of same sign.

⇒ 2𝑥 − 5 > 0 and 3𝑥 + 1 > 0 or 2𝑥 − 5 < 0 and 3𝑥 + 1 < 0

" ! " !
⇒𝑥> and 𝑥 > − ' ⇒ 𝑥 < % and 𝑥 < − '
%

" !
⇒𝑥>% ⇒ 𝑥 < −'

! "
−' %

! "
∴ 𝑥 ∈ −∞, − ' ∪ %
,∞
Key Takeaways

Method of Intervals(Wavy Curve Method):

Steps:

• Bring everything to 𝐿. 𝐻. 𝑆 and make 𝑅. 𝐻. 𝑆 = 0

• Factorize the given expression into as many linear factors as possible

• Identify the critical points. (The values of 𝑥 at which each individual

factor is equal to zero)

• Plot the critical points on the real number line and determine the regions

• Determine the sign of the given expression in the regions

• Write the solution set as per inequality given

Key Takeaways

Method 2 − Wavy Curve Method:

(2𝑥 − 5)(3𝑥 + 1) > 0

Expression
" !
Critical Points are % and − '

Plotting critical points and sign determination :

𝐼𝐼𝐼 𝐼
+ +

𝐼𝐼
! − "
−' %

! "
𝑥 ∈ −∞, − ' ∪ %
,∞
 $'!
Solve the inequality: %$"(
≤0

𝑥+5
≤0
3𝑥 − 7

Expression
+
Critical Points are −5 and
'
Plotting critical points and sign determination :

𝐼𝐼𝐼 𝐼
+ +

𝐼𝐼
− +
−5 '

+
𝑥 ∈ −5 ,
'
 $'!
Solve the inequality: %$"(
≤0

&," )
'&$+
≤0 < 0 ⇒ 𝑎 & 𝑏 are of opposite sign.
*

⇒ 𝑥 + 5 ≥ 0 and 3𝑥 − 7 < 0 or 𝑥 + 5 ≤ 0 and 3𝑥 − 7 > 0

+ +
⇒ 𝑥 ≥ −5 and 𝑥 < ⇒ 𝑥 ≤ −5 and 𝑥 >
' '

+
⇒ −5 ≤ 𝑥 < ' Not possible

−5 +
'

+
∴ 𝑥 ∈ −5 ,
'
Key Takeaways

Graphical Solution of Linear inequality in Two Variables:

𝑌 𝑄 𝛼, 𝛾
• Let the equation of a line be : 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 = 𝑐; 𝑎, 𝑏 ≠ 0
and points be 𝑃 𝛼, 𝛽 , 𝑄(𝛼, 𝛾) and 𝑅(𝛼, 𝛿) 𝑃 𝛼, 𝛽
𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 𝑅 𝛼, 𝛿
• For different position of points:
=𝑐 𝑋
0
• If 𝑎𝛼 + 𝑏𝛽 = 𝑐 ⇒ point 𝑃 lies on the line

• If 𝑎𝛼 + 𝑏𝛾 > 𝑐 ⇒ point 𝑄 lies above the line

• If 𝑎𝛼 + 𝑏𝛿 < 𝑐 ⇒ point 𝑅 lies below the line

• The region which contains all the solution of an

inequality is called the solution region.
Key Takeaways

Graphical Solution of Linear inequality in Two Variables:

Example:

• Solve the linear inequality graphically: 3𝑦 ≤ 7 𝑌

5
Solution: 4 𝑃 2, 4
Step 1: Plot the line 3𝑦 = 7 3 ( 3𝑦 = 7
0,
2 %
Step 2: Select any random point P 2, 4 : 1
3 4 − 7 = 5 > 7 → False 0 1 2 3 4 5
𝑋
Step 3: Mark the region as the solution region
Solve the linear inequality graphically: 𝑥 − 2 ≥ 0

𝑌
5
Step 1: Plot the line 𝑥 = 2
4

Step 2: Select any random point P 5, 1 : 3

2
5 − 2 = 3 > 2 → True
1 𝑃(5,1)
Step 3: Mark the region as the solution region 𝑋
0 1 2 3 4 5

𝑥=2
Graphical Solution of Linear inequality in Two Variables:

Example:

• Solve the linear inequality graphically: 𝑥 ≤ 𝑦

𝑌
5
Solution:
4
Step 1: Plot the line 𝑥 − 𝑦 = 0 3 𝑥
2 =𝑦
Step 2: Select any random point P 3, 1 : 𝑃 3,1
1
3 − 1 = 2 ≤ 0 → False 𝑋
0 1 2 3 4 5
Step 3: Mark the region as the solution region
Graphical Solution of Linear inequality in Two Variables:

Example:

• Solve the linear inequality graphically:

5
𝑌
3𝑥 + 2𝑦 > 6
3𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 6
Solution: 4
3 0, 3 𝑃 3, 3
Step 1: Plot the line 3𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 6
2
Step 2: Select any random point P 3, 3 : 1
2, 0
3 3 + 2 3 = 15 > 6 → True 𝑋
0 1 2 3 4 5
Step 3: Mark the region as the solution region
Solve the system of Linear inequalities graphically:
𝑥 − 2𝑦 > 5 & 3𝑥 + 2𝑦 < 4

𝑋
Solve the system of Linear inequalities graphically:
𝑥 − 2𝑦 > 5 & 3𝑥 + 2𝑦 < 4

3𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 4 𝑌 𝑥 − 2𝑦 > 5 ⋯ (𝑖) 3𝑥 + 2𝑦 < 4 ⋯ (𝑖𝑖)

5
4
3
2 0, 2
𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 5
1 )
%
,0 5,0
−5 −4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5
𝑋
−1
−2
!
−3 0, −
#
−4
−5
 $ 1 &$ 1
Solve the inequality: #$ ' 1 ≥ ) , )$"1 < #

Case I: Case II:

& ! (& !
%&,!
≥# #&$!
<%
& ! (& !
⇒ − ≥0 − <0
%&,! # #&$! %
#&$%&$! %&$! /&,!
⇒ #(%&,!)
≥0 ⇒ (%&,!) ≥ 0 #&$!
<0

𝐼𝐼𝐼 𝐼 𝐼𝐼𝐼 𝐼
+ + + +
! 𝐼𝐼 ! ! 𝐼𝐼 !
−% − %
− −
/ #

! ! ! !
𝑥 ∈ −∞, − % ∪ %
,∞ 𝑥 ∈ −/,#
 $ 1 &$ 1
Solve the inequality: #$ ' 1 ≥ ) , )$"1 < #

& ! (& !
%& , !
≥ # , #&$! < %

! ! ! !
𝑥 ∈ −/,# ∩ 𝑥 ∈ −∞, −
%
∪
%
,∞

! ! ! !
−% − # %
/

𝑥∈𝜙
THANK
YOU