Section 1.

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Linear Inequality

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a
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Dr. Abdulla Eid

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College of Science
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MATHS 103: Mathematics for Business I
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Comparison Operators
Let a and b be two real numbers of the number line.
a = b.

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a < b which is read as a ” is less than ” b.

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a > b which is read as a ” is greater than ” b.
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a ≤ b which is read as a ” is less than or equal to ” b.

a ≥ b which is read as a ” is greater than or equal to ” b.

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Intervals

Let a < b.
Recall:
(a, b ] : a < x ≤ b.

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[a, b ) : a ≤ x < b.

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(a, ∞) : a < x. .A
(−∞, a) : x < a.
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(−∞, ∞) : −∞ < x < ∞.

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 Exercise
Describe each of the following interval in the number line and inequality
symbols:
1 [2, 5].
2 (−5, ∞).
(−∞, 0].

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3

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4 [a, ∞).

a
(0, 1).

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5

[0, 1].

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6
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 Definition
An inequality is a mathematical statement that uses inequality symbols
(<, >, ≤, ≥) to connect two expressions.

Goal: To solve inequalities that contain a variable. The answer will be

written in the form of an interval, inequality symbols, and will be described

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in the number line.

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Definition

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A linear inequality in the variable x is an inequality that can be written in

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the form .A
ax + b <0, or >, ≤, ≥
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Rules of inequality:
If A + c < B, then A < B − c. (As we did for the equations).
If cA < cB, then A < B if c > 0. (As we did for the equations).
If cA < cB, then A>B if c < 0. (Exception of what we did for the
equations).
Dr. Abdulla Eid (University of Bahrain) Inequality 5 / 17
 Example
Solve 2(x − 3) < 4

Solution: We solve linear inequality in the same way we solve linear

equations (see Section 0.7) except if we multiply or divide by a negative

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number, then we need to reverse the inequality sign.

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2(x − 3) < 4

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2x − 6 < 4

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.A 2x < 4 + 6
2x < 10
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2x 10
<
2 2
x <5

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The Solution
1- Set notation
Solution Set = {x | x| {z
< 5} }
your answer

2- Number Line notation

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3- Interval notation

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(−∞, 5)
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You can check your answer by picking any value in the solution set and
substitute it in the original inequality.Take x = 0. Then

2(0 − 3) 4 → −6 4
which we can fill it with <.
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 Exercise
Solve 3 < 2y + 3

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 Example
Solve 4 − 2x ≤ 6

Solution:

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4 − 2x ≤ 6

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− 2x ≤ 6 − 4

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− 2x ≤ 2
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−2x 2
≥
−2 −2
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x≥ − 1

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The Solution

1- Set notation
Solution Set = {x | − 1 ≤ x }

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2- Number Line notation

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3- Interval notation
[−1, ∞)
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 Exercise
Solve −3 ≥ 8(2 − x )

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 Example
Solve 32 (x − 2) + 1 > −2(x − 4)

Solution:

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(x − 2) + 1 > −2(x − 4)

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2

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3
2( (x − 2)) + 2(1) > 2(−2(x − 4))

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2

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3(x − 2) + 2 > −4(x − 4)

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3x − 6 + 2 > −4x + 16
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3x + 4x > 16 + 4
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7x > 20
7x 20
>
7 7
20
x>
7

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The Solution

1- Set notation
20
Solution Set = {x | x > }
7

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2- Number Line notation

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bd
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3- Interval notation
20
, ∞)
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(
7

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Special Cases

Example
Solve 2(x − 2) > 2x + 6

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Solution:

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2(x − 2) > 2x + 6

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2x − 4 > 2x + 6
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2x − 2x > 6 + 4
0 > 10
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Which is not true at all. Hence in the case that x disappears and the last
statement we got is incorrect we say that we don’t have a solution!.

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The Solution

1- Set notation

Solution Set = {} = ∅ (”The empty set)

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a
2- Number Line notation

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3- Interval notation
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Special Cases
Example
Solve 2x + 6 < 2(x + 5)

Solution:

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2x + 6 < 2(x + 5)

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2x + 6 < 2x + 10

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2x − 2x < 10 − 6
.A
0<4
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Which is always true. Hence in the case that x disappears and the last
statement we got is correct we say that all real numbers are solution. In
short,

−∞ < x < ∞
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The Solution

1- Set notation

Solution Set = {x | − ∞ < x < ∞}

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a
2- Number Line notation

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3- Interval notation
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(−∞, ∞)

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