COLLEGE ALGEBRA

Inequalities

MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA

INEQUALITIES
Inequalities are mathematical statements that
implies two algebraic expressions are not equal.
In contrast to equations where expressions are
equated by ‘ = ‘ sign, inequalities relate two
expressions by either “< , >, ≤ or ≥” signs.

Examples:
1. 2𝑥 − 3 < 5𝑥 2 − 5
3−2𝑥
2. 3𝑥 + 7 ≥
6
MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA
INEQUALITIES

• Solving an inequality means finding all of

its solutions.
• A solution of an inequality is a number
which when substituted for the variable
makes the inequality a true statement.
• Whereas equations yield a finite number
of solutions, inequalities usually yield an
‘infinite’ number of solutions.*
*http://www.sosmath.com/algebra/inequalities/ineq01/ineq01.html
MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA
INEQUALITIES

Solutions for an inequality can be written in

three different ways, namely,
• Set Notation
• Graphical Notation
• Interval Notation

MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA

INEQUALITIES
SET NOTATION INTERVAL NOTATION GRAPHICAL NOTATION

𝑥𝑥>𝑎 (𝑎, +∞) (

a
{𝑥|𝑥 < 𝑏} (−∞, 𝑏) )
b
𝑥𝑥≥𝑎 [𝑎, +∞) [
a
{𝑥|𝑥 ≤ 𝑏} (−∞, 𝑏] ]
b
𝑥𝑎<𝑥<𝑏 (𝑎, 𝑏) ( )
a b
𝑥𝑎≤𝑥≤𝑏 [𝑎, 𝑏] [ ]
a b
𝑥𝑎≤𝑥<𝑏 [𝑎, 𝑏) [ )
a b
𝑥𝑎<𝑥≤𝑏 (𝑎, 𝑏] ( ]
a b
MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA
Basic Rules* for solving an inequality:
Rule 1: Adding or subtracting a number on both sides.
𝑎 <𝑏 ↔𝑎+𝑐 <𝑏+𝑐
Rule 2: Switching sides and changing the sign of the
inequality.
𝑎<𝑏 ↔𝑏>𝑎
Rule 3a: Multiplying by a POSITIVE number.
𝑎 < 𝑏 ↔ 𝑎𝑐 < 𝑏𝑐, 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑐 > 0.
Rule 3b. Multiplying by a NEGATIVE number.
𝑎 < 𝑏 ↔ 𝑎𝑐 > 𝑏𝑐, 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑐 < 0.

*http://www.sosmath.com/algebra/inequalities/ineq01/ineq01.html
MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA
ILLUSTRATIONS:
Solve the following inequalities:
1. 4 − 3𝑥 ≤ − 1 + 8𝑥
2. 5 − 2𝑥 − 5 > 3[1 + 2 𝑥 − 3 ]
2𝑥−5
3. −1 ≤
4
< 7
3−5𝑥
4. 5<
7
−6 < 10
3𝑥−7
5. 8
≤ 10
6. 5𝑥 + 1 > 6

MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA

EXERCISES:
Solve the following inequalities:
1. 1 − (2𝑥 + 7) ≤ 1 − 5𝑥
5𝑥−1 2𝑥+1
2. 2
>3−
3
3−4𝑥
3. 0 ≤ 2
+ 1 <4
1
4. 2
𝑥− 6 <7
2𝑥+1
5. 5
≥6

MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA

QUADRATIC/POLYNOMIAL/RATIO
NAL INEQUALITIES:
The basic rule that we will apply for these type of
inequalities will be as follows:

𝑎𝑏 > 0 → 𝑎 > 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏 > 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑎 < 0

𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏 < 0
𝑎𝑏 < 0 → 𝑎 > 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏 < 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑎 < 0
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏 > 0

Note: The main consideration that we will bear in mind is the sign (+ or -)
assignment for each factor. The same principle will apply for rational
expressions with a little modification.
MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA
ILLUSTRATIONS:
Solve the following inequalities:
1. 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 18 ≤ 0
2. 3𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 < 2𝑥 2 + 4
3. 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 3 > 0
4. (𝑥 2 −4)(𝑥 + 4) >0
𝑥−3
5. 𝑥+1
<0
2𝑥+1
6. 𝑥−5
≥3
3𝑥 2 −2𝑥
7. 𝑥 2 −𝑥−12
≥ 0

MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA

EXERCISES:
Solve the following inequalities:
1. −𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 6 ≤ 0
2. 𝑥 + 1 2 < 𝑥 1 − 𝑥 + 2
3. 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 6 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 8 ≥ 0
3𝑥−2
4. 2𝑥+3
<0
3𝑥−5
5. 2𝑥+1
≥8

MATH 10: COLLEGE ALGEBRA