Inequalities

What is an Inequality?
An inequality is a mathematical sentence built from expressions that use one or
more of the inequality symbols.
Less than
This symbol is used when we are trying to show
that one thing is smaller than the other thing in a
relationship.

Ex) x < 5

20 is less than 24

20 < 24
Greater than
This symbol is used when we are trying to show
that one thing is larger than the other thing in a
relationship.

Ex) x > 10

15 is greater than 12

15 > 12
Less than or equal to
This symbol is used when we are trying to
show that one thing can be the same or
smaller than the other thing in a relationship.

Ex) x 7
Greater than or equal to
This symbol is used when we are trying to show
that one thing can be the same or larger than the
other thing in a relationship.

Ex) x 15

X3
Not Equal to
This symbol is used when we are trying to show
something cannot be the same as another thing

Ex) x 5

x 10
Lets try it!
Common Key Words

Less than Greater than Less than or equal to Greater than or equal to
Under More than At most At least
Below Above No more than Not less than
Smaller than Higher Not greater than No less than
Lower Over Not more than Minimum
Fewer Larger than
Beneath Exceeds
Bigger
Number Lines
Writing numbers down on a Number Line makes it easy to tell which numbers are
greater or lesser
Graphing Inequalities
Graphing an inequality on a number line, is very similar to graphing a number.

Graph: x = 2
Graphing Inequalities cont.
Less than ( ) or Greater than ( ) have OPEN CIRCLES (DOES NOT include
the number circled.

Graph: x 2
Graphing Inequalities cont.
Less than or equal to ( ) and Greater than or equal to ( ) have CLOSED
CIRCLES (DOES include the number circled.

Graph: x 2
Recap 1
More than 6 students wore their Cubs shirts today.

Key Words: More than

Inequality: or X 6
Recap 2
Classes can have no more than 30 students.

Key Words: No more than

Inequality: or X 30
GAME TIME!