INEQUALITIES

John Karlo Mendoza

BS Mechanical Engineering
University of the Philippines Diliman
 Inequalities
An inequality is a statement that an algebraic
expression is greater than, greater than or
equal to, or less than or equal to, less than, to
another algebraic expression.

A value of the variable for which an inequality

is true is a solution of the inequality. The set
of all solutions of an inequality is the solution
set of the inequality.
 Absolute Inequality
An absolute inequality is an inequality that is
satisfied by every number for which the
algebraic expressions in the inequality are real
numbers.
x  0, SS  
2

1 1
  3, SS   /{0}
x x
 Conditional Inequality
A conditional inequality is an inequality that is
satisfied by some numbers and not satisfied
by others.

GOAL: We want to solve conditional

inequalities, that is, to find the
solution set of conditional
inequalities.
 Equivalent Inequality

Equivalent inequalities are inequalities having

the same solution set.
 Solving Linear Inequalities

To solve, apply both addition and

multiplication axiom for order.

AAO:  a,b,c  R, a > b, then a + c > b + c

MAO:  a,b,c  R, c > 0, a > b, then ac > bc
Theorem:  a,b,c  R, c < 0, a > b, then ac <
bc
 Examples
Find the solution set of the following:
1. 3 x  1  x  5
2x  4
x 2

 SS  {x | x  , x  2}  (2,)
 Examples
2x  1 2x 1
2.  
4 3 6
3(2 x  1)  4(2 x )  2
6x  3  8x  2
 2 x  1
1
x
2
1 1
 SS  {x | x  , x  }  [ ,)
2 2
 Examples
3.  2  5  3x  20
 7  3x  15
7
 x5
3
 7 
 SS    ,5 
 3 
Polynomial and Rational Inequalities

To solve, express the inequality in the form A >

0 or A < 0 where A is an algebraic expression.
Apply case method or interval method.
 Examples
Find the solution set of the following:

1. x  4 x  3  0
2

( x  3)( x  1)  0
 Case Method
Case 1: x – 3 > 0, and x – 1 < 0, x > 3, x < 1

Case 1:
1 3
no intersection

 SS1  
 Case Method
Case 2: x – 3 < 0, and x – 1 > 0, x < 3, x > 1

Case 2:
1 3
SS2  (1,3)
Final Answer : SS    (1,3)
 SS  (1,3)
Interval Method/Critical Point Method