LINEAR INEQUALITIES

Inequalities work like equations,

but they tell you whether one
expression is bigger or smaller
than the other.
 An inequality is like an equation, but
instead of an equal sign (=) it has one of
the following signs:
< “is less than”
> “is greater than”
≤ “is less than or equal to”
≥ “is greater than or equal to”
 Inequality Symbols
    
is less
than is less is not
than or equal to
equal to is greater
is greater
than than or
equal to
An inequality is a mathematical
sentence which states that two
expressions are not equal.
 Inequality Signs
Inequality
Meaning Example
sign
 not equal to 11  1, 4  4

 greater than 45  34, 2  7

 less than 7  9, 12  7

 greater than or equal to, not less than 8  5, 10  10

 less than or equal to, not greater than 5  8, 10  10

LINEAR INEQUALITY IN ONE VARIABLE

Linear Inequality

• < symbol could be replaced by > or  or 

• Has one variable to the first power
LINEAR INEQUALITY IN ONE VARIABLE

Examples:
Properties of Linear
Inequalities
Definition: Trichotomy Property
of Inequality
The trichotomy property of inequality
states that given any two numbers 𝑎
and 𝑏, exactly one of the following
statements is true:

a  b, a > b, or ab
Definition: Transitive
Property of Inequality
The transitive property of inequality states
that given the numbers 𝑎, 𝑏, and 𝑐,
if 𝑎 < 𝑏 and 𝑏 < 𝑐, then 𝑎 < 𝑐.
Similarly, if 𝑎 > 𝑏 and 𝑏 > 𝑐, then 𝑎 > 𝑐.

This also applies to the inequalities

involving ≤ and ≥.
Definition: Addition and
Subtraction Property of Inequality
The addition and subtraction property of
inequality states that an inequality
remains true when the same quantity is
added or subtracted to both sides of the
inequality. Given the numbers 𝑎, 𝑏, & 𝑐,
it can be described by the following
statements,
If 𝑎 < 𝑏, then 𝑎 + 𝑐 < 𝑏 + 𝑐 or 𝑎 − 𝑐 < 𝑏
− 𝑐.
If 𝑎 > 𝑏, then 𝑎 + 𝑐 > 𝑏 + 𝑐 or 𝑎 − 𝑐 > 𝑏
− 𝑐.
This also applies to the inequalities
involving ≤ and ≥.
Definition: Multiplication and
Division Property of Inequality
The multiplication and division property of
inequality states that an inequality remains true
when the same positive quantity is multiplied or
divided to both sides of the inequality.
Otherwise, when the quantity multiplied or
divided is negative, the inequality symbol is
reversed. Given real numbers 𝑎, 𝑏, and 𝑐, it can
be described by the following statements,
Solution Sets of Linear
Inequalities in One
Variable
 Solving Linear Inequalities
To solve linear inequalities, you
must find all the possible values of 𝑥
that can satisfy the inequality.
Based on the given inequality, you
can do this by manipulating the
inequality such that 𝑥 is isolated in
one side.
Solving linear inequalities in one variable
1) Multiply to clear fractions
2) Use distributive property
3) Simplify each side of the inequality
4) Get all variable terms on one side and numbers
on the other side of the inequality (addition
property of inequality)
5) Isolate variable (multiplication/division
property of inequality)
Solve the Inequality
8 + r ≥ -2
8 + r + (-8) ≥ -2 + (-8)

r ≥ -10
All numbers from -10 and up
(including -10) make this problem true!
Solve the inequality.
 3 x  7  13
 3x  6
x  2

Flip the sign after

dividing by the -3!
Solve the inequality.
6(5  3 p)  3(6 p  10)
30  18 p  18 p  30
18 p 18 p
30  30

This is a true statement, therefore the solution is

ALL REAL NUMBERS.
Definition: Compound
Inequalities
Compound inequalities are
statements that contain two or
more inequalities using and/or
which are combined through
intersection/union of sets.