Inequalities in One Variable

Linear Inequalities in One
Variable
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

Sec 3.1 - 1
Linear Inequalities in One Variable
Objectives
1. Graph intervals on a number line.

2. Solve linear inequalities using the addition property.
3. Solve linear inequalities using the multiplication
property.
4. Solve linear inequalities with three parts.
5. Solve applied problems using linear inequalities.
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 3.1 - 2
3.1 Linear Inequalities in One Variable
Graphing intervals on a number line
Solving inequalities is closely related to solving

equations. Inequalities are algebraic expressions
related by
We solve an inequality by finding all real numbers

solutions for it.
Graphing intervals on a number line
One way to describe the solution set of an inequality

is by graphing.
We graph all the numbers satisfying x < –1 by placing

a right parenthesis at –1 on the number line and
drawing an arrow extending from the parenthesis to
the left. This arrow represents the fact that all
numbers less than –1 are part of the graph.
–5 –4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Interval Notation and the Infinity Symbol
The set of numbers less than –1 is an example of an

interval. We can write the solution set of this
inequality using interval notation.
• The symbol does not actually represent a

number.
• A parenthesis is always used next to the infinity
symbol.
• The set of real numbers is written as in
interval notation.
EXAMPLE 1 Graphing Intervals Written In Interval
Notation on Number Lines
Write the inequality in interval notation and graph it.
This statement says that x can be any number greater than or equal
to 1. This interval is written .
We show this on the number line by using a left bracket at 1 and

drawing an arrow to the right. The bracket indicates that the
number 1 is included in the interval.
–5 –4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5
EXAMPLE 2 Graphing Intervals Written In Interval
Notation on Number Lines
Write the inequality in interval notation and graph it.
This statement says that x can be any number greater than –2 and
less than or equal to 3. This interval is written .
We show this on the number line by using a left parenthesis at –

2 and a right bracket at 3 and drawing a line between. The
parenthesis indicates that the number –2 is not included in the
interval and the bracket indicates that the 3 is included in the
interval.
–5 –4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Types of Intervals Summarized
Open Intervals
Interval
Set Graph
Notation
a b
Half Open Intervals
Interval
Set Graph
Notation
a b
a b
b
Closed Interval
Interval
Set Graph
Notation
a b
Linear Inequality
An inequality says that two expressions are not equal.
Linear Inequality
Examples:
Solving Linear Inequalities Using the Addition Property
• Solving an inequality means to find all the numbers

that make the inequality true.
• Usually an inequality has a infinite number of
solutions.
• Solutions are found by producing a series of
simpler equivalent equations, each having the same
solution set.
• We use the addition and multiplication properties of
inequality to produce equivalent inequalities.
Addition Property of Inequality
Addition Property of Inequality
Using the Addition Property of Inequality
Solve and graph the solution:
Check: Substitute –4 for x in the equation x – 5 = 9.

The result should be a true statement.
This shows –4
is a boundary
point.

Now we have to test a number on each side of –4 to
verify that numbers greater than –4 make the inequality
true. We choose –3 and –5.
–5 –4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Check: Substitute 3 for m in the equation 3 + 7m = 8m.

This shows 3
is a boundary
point.

Now we have to test a number on each side of 3 to verify
that numbers less than or equal to 3 make the inequality
true. We choose 2 and 4.
–5 –4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Multiplication Property of Inequality
Multiplication Property of Inequality
Using the Multiplication Property of Inequality
Check: Substitute –8 for m in the equation 3m = –24.

This shows –8
is a boundary
point.

verify that numbers greater than or equal to –8 make the
inequality true. We choose –9 and –7.
–16 –14 –12 –10 –8 –6 –4 –2 0 2 4

Check: Substitute – 5 for k in the equation –7k = 35.

This shows –5
is a boundary
point.

verify that numbers less than or equal to –5 make the
inequality true. We choose –6 and –4.
–16 –14 –12 –10 –8 –6 –4 –2 0 2 4

Solving a Linear Inequality
Steps used in solving a linear inequality are:

Step 1 Simplify each side separately. Clear
parentheses, fractions, and decimals using the
distributive property as needed, and combine
like terms.
Step 2 Isolate the variable terms on one side. Use
the additive property of inequality to get all
terms with variables on one side of the
inequality and all numbers on the other side.
Step 3 Isolate the variable. Use the multiplication
property of inequality to change the inequality to
the form x < k or x > k.
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
–10 –9 –8 –7 –6 –5 –4 –3 –2 –1 0
Solving a Linear Inequality with Fractions
First Clear Multiply each side by the least common

Fractions: denominator, 15.
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
–16 –14 –12 –10 –8 –6 –4 –2 0 2 4
Solving Linear Inequalities with Three Parts
In some applications, linear inequalities have three parts.

When linear inequalities have three parts, it is important
to write the inequalities so that:
1. The inequality symbols point in the same direction.
2. Both inequality symbols point toward the lesser
numbers.
Solving a Three-Part Inequality

This statement says that x – 2 is greater than or equal to
3 and less than or equal to 7.
To solve this inequality, we need to isolate the variable
x. To do this, we must add 2 to the expression, x – 2.
To produce an equivalent statement, we must also add
2 to the other two parts of the inequality as well.
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
–2 –1 0 1 2
Solving Applied Problems Using Linear Inequalities
In addition to the familiar phrases “less than” and

“greater than”, it is important to accurately interpret
the meaning of the following:
Word Expression Interpretation

a is at least b
a is no less than b
a is at most b
a is no more than b
A rectangle must have an area of at least 15 cm2 and no

more than 60 cm2. If the width of the rectangle is 3 cm,
what is the range of values for the length?
Step 1 Read the problem.
Step 2 Assign a variable. Let L = the length of the

rectangle.
Step 3 Write an inequality. Area equals width

times length, so area is 3L; and this amount
must be at least 15 and no more than 60.

Step 4 Solve.
Step 5 State the answer. In order for the rectangle to

have an area of at least 15 cm2 and no more
than 60 cm2 when the width is 3 cm, the length
must be at least 5 cm and no more than 20 cm.

Step 6 Check. If the length is 5 cm, the area will be

3 • 5 = 15 cm2; if the length is 20 cm, the
area will be 3 • 20 = 60 cm2. Any length
between 5 and 20 cm will produce an area
between 15 and 60 cm2.
You have just purchased a new cell phone. According to

the terms of your agreement, you pay a flat fee of $6 per
month, plus 4 cents per minute for calls. If you want your
total bill to be no more than $10 for the month, how many
minutes can you use?
Step 1 Read the problem.
Step 2 Assign a variable. Let x = the number of

minutes used during the month.
You have just purchased a new cell phone. According to

the terms of your agreement, you pay a flat fee of $6 per
month, plus 4 cents per minute for calls. If you want your
total bill to be no more than $10 for the month, how many
minutes can you use?
Step 3 Write an inequality. You must pay a

total of $6, plus 4 cents per minute. This
total must be less than or equal to $10.
Step 4
Solve.
Step 5 State the answer. If you use no more

than 100 minutes of cell phone time, your
bill will be less than or equal to $10.
Step 6 Check. If you use 100 minutes, you will

have a total bill of $10, or $6 + $0.04(100).

Inequalities in One Variable

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Linear Inequalities in One

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

1. Graph intervals on a number line.

Graphing intervals on a number line

Solving inequalities is closely related to solving

We solve an inequality by finding all real numbers

Graphing intervals on a number line

One way to describe the solution set of an inequality

We graph all the numbers satisfying x < –1 by placing

Interval Notation and the Infinity Symbol

The set of numbers less than –1 is an example of an

• The symbol does not actually represent a

We show this on the number line by using a left bracket at 1 and

We show this on the number line by using a left parenthesis at –

Types of Intervals Summarized

Types of Intervals Summarized

Half Open Intervals

Types of Intervals Summarized

An inequality says that two expressions are not equal.

Solving Linear Inequalities Using the Addition Property

• Solving an inequality means to find all the numbers

Addition Property of Inequality

Addition Property of Inequality

Using the Addition Property of Inequality

Solve and graph the solution:

Check: Substitute –4 for x in the equation x – 5 = 9.

Using the Addition Property of Inequality

Solve and graph the solution:

Using the Addition Property of Inequality

Solve and graph the solution:

Check: Substitute 3 for m in the equation 3 + 7m = 8m.

Using the Addition Property of Inequality

Solve and graph the solution:

Multiplication Property of Inequality

Multiplication Property of Inequality

Using the Multiplication Property of Inequality

Solve and graph the solution:

Check: Substitute –8 for m in the equation 3m = –24.

Using the Multiplication Property of Inequality

Solve and graph the solution:

–16 –14 –12 –10 –8 –6 –4 –2 0 2 4

Using the Multiplication Property of Inequality

Solve and graph the solution:

Check: Substitute – 5 for k in the equation –7k = 35.

Using the Multiplication Property of Inequality

Solve and graph the solution:

–16 –14 –12 –10 –8 –6 –4 –2 0 2 4

Solving a Linear Inequality

Steps used in solving a linear inequality are:

Solving a Linear Inequality

Solve and graph the solution:

Solving a Linear Inequality

Solve and graph the solution:

Solving a Linear Inequality with Fractions

Solve and graph the solution:

First Clear Multiply each side by the least common

Solving a Linear Inequality with Fractions

Solve and graph the solution:

Solving a Linear Inequality with Fractions

Solve and graph the solution:

–16 –14 –12 –10 –8 –6 –4 –2 0 2 4

Solving Linear Inequalities with Three Parts

In some applications, linear inequalities have three parts.