MATH 1101: College Algebra and Trigonometry
Lecture 10: INEQUALITIES AND ABSOLUTE VALUES
John Mbotwa, PhD
October 20, 2024
Introduction
Inequalities are mathematical expressions involving the symbols <,
>, ≤, ≥, and ̸=. It is worth noting that real numbers, R, are
represented as a straight line, which is divided into the following
parts:
▶ Positive reals — The part of R that lies to the right of zero.
▶ Negative reals — The part of R that lies to the left of zero.
The point zero itself is neither positive nor negative. Note the
following:
▶ If x is positive, we write x > 0.
▶ If x is negative, we write x < 0.
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 R
Definition
▶ We say that x is greater than y (or y is less than x) if
x − y > 0, and write this as x > y (or y < x).
▶ Geometrically, this means that x is to the right of y on the R
axis.
Axioms
1. For every x ∈ R, exactly one of the following is true: x > 0,
x < 0, x = 0.
2. If x, y ∈ R, x > 0 and y > 0, then x + y > 0 and xy > 0.
3. If x > 0, then −x < 0 and 1
x = x −1 > 0.
4. If x > y and y > z, then x > z.
5. If x > y , then x + c > y + c for every c ∈ R.
6. If x > y and c > 0, then cx > cy .
7. If x > y and c < 0, then cx < cy .
Important Note on Axiom 7
Take note of Axiom 7: When an inequality is multiplied by a
negative number, the sign of the inequality is reversed. This means
that since the sign of the unknown may be positive or negative,
one cannot multiply an inequality by the unknown.
Example:
Given 3 > 2, it does not follow that 3x > 2x for every x.
Additional Notation for Inequalities
We shall also use the following notation:
▶ a ≥ b, means that a > b or a = b.
▶ a ≤ b, means that a < b or a = b.
In general, if a ∈ R, then:
1. {x | x > a} is the set of points to the right of a not including
a itself.
2. {x | x ≥ a} is the set of points to the right of a including a
itself.
Note:
▶ If a < x and x < b, then a < b. This can be expressed as:
a < x < b.
▶ For example, 2 < x < 4 means 2 < x and x < 4.
▶ This implies that 4 < x < 2 is meaningless.
Interval Notation
Suppose a < b. The following notations are useful:
1. (a, b) = {x | a < x < b}
2. [a, b] = {x | a ≤ x ≤ b}
3. (a, b] = {x | a < x ≤ b}
4. [a, b) = {x | a ≤ x < b}
5. (a, ∞) = {x | a < x}
6. [a, ∞) = {x | a ≤ x}
7. (−∞, a) = {x | x < a}
8. (−∞, a] = {x | x ≤ a}
Important Notes on Brackets and Infinity
When using square and round brackets, keep the following in mind:
1. Square brackets:
▶ e.g., [3, 5) means 3 ∈ [3, 5).
2. Round brackets:
▶ e.g., (3, 5) means 3 ∈
/ (3, 5).
3. Infinity (∞) and Negative Infinity (−∞):
▶ These are only used as a quick way to write down an interval
that does not have a finite endpoint.
4. Do not use square brackets before or after ∞ and −∞,
because ∞ is not a real number.
5. The set [4, 7] is different from the set {4, 5, 6, 7}:
▶ [4, 7] consists of all real numbers between 4 and 7 (inclusive).
▶ {4, 5, 6, 7} has only four elements altogether.
Example 1: Solve the Inequality 3x − 5 < 7
Solution:
3x − 5 + 5 < 7 + 5
3x < 12
3x 12
<
3 3
x <4
The answer can be written as follows:
▶ Interval notation: x ∈ (−∞, 4)
▶ Set notation: {x | x < 4}
Example 2: Solve the Inequality 7 − 2x ≤ 4
Solution:
7 − 7 − 2x ≤ 4 − 7
−2x ≤ −3
3
x≥
2
Note: Axiom 7 was used (multiplying by a negative number
reverses the inequality).
The answer can be written as follows:
▶ Interval notation: x ∈ 23 , ∞
▶ Set notation: {x | x ≥ 32 }
Important Observations Before Proceeding
Note the following:
1. If ab > 0, then:
▶ a > 0 and b > 0
▶ a < 0 and b < 0
2. If ab < 0, then:
▶ a > 0 and b < 0
▶ a < 0 and b > 0
Example 3: Solve the Inequality x 2 + x − 6 < 0
Solution:
▶ First, factorize x 2 + x − 6:
x 2 + x − 6 = (x − 2)(x + 3)
▶ Therefore, rewrite the inequality as:
(x − 2)(x + 3) < 0
▶ The critical points are:
x −2=0 when x = 2
x +3=0 when x = −3
To find the solution, we need to analyze the sign of the factors in
different intervals.
Solution to Example 3 (continued)
▶ x − 2 > 0 when x > 2
▶ x + 3 > 0 when x > −3
To find the solution, generate the following table to analyze the
intervals:
x x < −3 −3 < x < 2 x >2
x −2 Negative Negative Positive
x +3 Negative Positive Positive
Product Positive Negative Positive
Therefore, the solution is x ∈ (−3, 2).
Example 4: Solve the Inequality x 2 − 3x − 4 ≥ 0
Solution:
▶ Factor the quadratic expression:
x 2 − 3x − 4 = (x − 4)(x + 1)
▶ Critical points:
x −4=0 when x = 4
x +1=0 when x = −1
To find the solution, we generate the following table:
x x < −1 −1 ≤ x ≤ 4 x >4
x −4 Negative Negative Positive
x +1 Negative Positive Positive
Product Positive Negative Positive
From this analysis, the solution is:
x ≤ −1 or x ≥4
In interval notation: (−∞, −1] ∪ [4, ∞).
Example 5: Solve the Inequality x 2 + 2x + 7 > 0
Solution:
▶ Apply the completing the square method:
(x + 1)2 + 6 > 0
▶ Since both terms are positive, the inequality is always true.
Therefore, the solution is:
x ∈R
i.e., the solution set is the set of all real numbers.
1
Example 6: Solve the Inequality x−1 <2
Solution:
1
−2<0
x −1
1 − 2(x − 1)
<0
x −1
1 − 2x + 2
<0
x −1
3 − 2x
<0
x −1
Now, multiply both sides by −1 to reverse the inequality:
2x − 3
>0
x −1
Critical points:
▶ 2x − 3 = 0 =⇒ x = 23
▶ x − 1 = 0 =⇒ x = 1
To solve, we generate the following table:
1
Example: Solve the Inequality x−1 <2
Solution:
x x <1 1 < x < 23 x > 32
2x − 3 Negative Negative Positive
x −1 Negative Positive Positive
Quotient Positive Negative Positive
From the table, we conclude that:
3
x ∈ (−∞, 1) ∪ ,∞
2
Example: Solve the Inequality x 2 + 5x + 6 > 0 (Slide 1)
Solution:
▶ Factor the quadratic expression:
x 2 + 5x + 6 = (x + 2)(x + 3)
▶ The inequality becomes:
(x + 2)(x + 3) > 0
▶ Critical points:
▶ x + 2 = 0 =⇒ x = −2
▶ x + 3 = 0 =⇒ x = −3
Example: Solve the Inequality x 2 + 5x + 6 > 0
Sign analysis:
▶ These critical points divide the real line into three intervals:
(−∞, −3), (−3, −2), (−2, ∞)
▶ Sign of each factor:
x x < −3 −3 < x < −2 x > −2
x +2 Negative Negative Positive
x +3 Negative Positive Positive
Product Positive Negative Positive
Conclusion: The inequality holds for
x ∈ (−∞, −3) ∪ (−2, ∞)
Example: Solve the Inequality |2x − 3| ≥ 2
Solution:
The absolute value inequality |2x − 3| ≥ 2 can be split into two
cases:
▶ Case 1:
2x − 3 ≥ 2
▶ Case 2:
2x − 3 ≤ −2
Let’s solve each case separately.
Example: Solve the Inequality |2x − 3| ≥ 2
Solving Case 1:
2x − 3 ≥ 2
5
2x ≥ 5 =⇒ x ≥
2
Solving Case 2:
2x − 3 ≤ −2
1
2x ≤ 1 =⇒ x ≤
2
Final solution:
1 5
x ∈ −∞, ∪ ,∞
2 2
The end!!
