3A Chapter 1

Meaning of Inequalities

(a) When two expressions are connected by an inequality sign, they formed an inequality.
e.g. x + y > 8, x – 9 < 12

(b)
Inequality sign Meaning
> is greater than
< is less than
 is greater than or equal to
1.1
 is less than or equal to

3A Chapter 1

Solutions of Inequalities
The values of the unknown which satisfy the inequality are called the solutions of the inequality.
e.g. Consider the inequality x > 2. Any values of x which are greater than 2 (say, 3, 4.5) are solutions of the
inequality.
The solution of the inequality x > 2 can be visualized by the aid of a number line as below:

1.2

3A Chapter 1

Graphical Representation of the Solutions of an Inequality

The graphical representations of the solutions of x > k, x  k, x < k and x  k are as follows:

Solutions of x > k Solutions of x  k Solutions of x < k Solutions of x  k

k k k k
The hollow circle ‘ ’ means that ‘k’ is not included in the solutions while the solid circle ‘ ’ means
that ‘k’ is included in the solutions.
1.3

3A Chapter 1

Basic Properties of Inequalities (I)

This property is also true for the inequality signs <,  and .
1.4
Use an inequality to represent each of the following statements.
(a) a is less than 5.
(b) The height of Tom (x cm) is greater than 120 cm.
(c) The speed of a car (s km/h) is not more than 70 km/h.
(d) The passing mark of a test was 55 marks. Elva got p marks in the test and she passed the test.
Solution:
(a) a < 5
(b) x > 120
(c) s  70
(d) p  55

Determine whether each of the following is a solution of the inequality x + 5 > 9.

(a) x = 2 (b) x = 8
Solution:
(a) When x = 2, (b) When x = 8,
L.H.S. = 2 + 5 = 7 L.H.S. = 8 + 5 = 13
R.H.S. = 9 R.H.S. = 9
∵ 7 > 9 is false. ∵ 13 > 9 is true.
∴ The inequality is not satisfied. ∴ The inequality is satisfied.
∴ x = 2 is not a solution of x + 5 > 9. ∴ x = 8 is a solution of x + 5 > 9.

Represent the solutions of each of the following inequalities graphically.

(a) x < 7 (b) x  –2.5
Solution:
(a)

0 7
(b)

–2.5 0

Fill in each of the following boxes with an appropriate inequality sign.

(a) If x > 10 and 10 > y, then x y.

(b) If a  –2 and –2  b, then a b.

(c) If 3  n and n  m, then m 3.

Solution:
(a) If x > 10 and 10 > y, then x > y.

(b) If a  –2 and –2  b, then a  b.

(c) If 3  n and m  n, then m  3.

 3A Chapter 1

Basic Properties of Inequalities (II)

This property is also true for the inequality signs <,  and .
1.5

3A Chapter 1

Basic Properties of Inequalities (III)

This property is also true for

the inequality signs <,  and .
1.6

3A Chapter 1

Solving Linear Inequalities in One Unknown

(a) An inequality with only one unknown of degree 1 is called a linear inequality in one unknown.
e.g. x  9, 2z – 1 > 0 are linear inequalities in one unknown.
only one unknown of degree 1
(b) To solve a linear inequality in one unknown x means to find all the values of x that satisfy the inequality.
e.g. Solve –4x + 1  5. Graphical representation of solutions

–4x + 1  5
–4x  4  –4x + 1 – 1  5 – 1 (Property 2)
1.7 4 x 4 –1 0
x  –1   (Property 3)
4 4

3A Chapter 1

Applications of Linear Inequalities in One Unknown

Steps in setting up an inequality to solve a problem

Identify the unknown in Set up an inequality Solve the inequality. Express the
the problem. Choose a according to the answer in
letter to represent the given information. words.
unknown.
1.8
If x > 9, determine whether each of the following must be true.
(a) x + 4 > 13
(b) x – 10 < –1
Solution:
(a) ∵ x>9
∴ x + 4 > 9 + 4 (i.e. x + 4 > 13)
∴ The inequality x + 4 > 13 must be true.
(b) ∵ x>9
∴ x – 10 > 9 – 10 (i.e. x – 10 > –1)
∴ The inequality x – 10 < –1 is false.

If m > n, determine whether each of the following is true.

(a) –3m > –3n
m n
(b) >
5 5
Solution:
(a) ∵ m>n (b) ∵ m > n
m n
∴ –3m < –3n  –3 < 0 ∴ > 5>0
5 5
m n
∴ The inequality –3m > –3n is false. ∴ The inequality > is true.
5 5

Solve each of the following linear inequalities.

y
(a) 4x + 6 > 18 (b) –17
2
Solution:
y
(a) 4x + 6 > 18 (b) –17
2
y
4x > 18 – 6 7+1
2
y
4x > 12 8
2
∴ x>3 ∴ y  16

If the sum of two consecutive even numbers is at most 70, find the greatest value of the larger number.
Solution:
Let x be the larger number. Then the smaller number is (x – 2).
x + (x – 2)  70
2x – 2  70
2x  72
x  36
Since x is an even number, the greatest value of x is 36.
∴ The greatest value of the larger number is 36.