22/04/25

Solving
Inequalities
OBJECTIVE
Solve Algebraic Inequalities

OUTCOMES
I know what inequalities are
I can represent inequalities on a number line
I can solve inequalities
I can represent inequalities on a graph

Key words

Solve, Unknown, Inverse, Opposite, Inequality, More

than, Greater than, Less than
Starter
What are inequalities?

< , > , ≥ ,
≤
 Inequality Signs

< means “is less than”

 means “is less than or equal to”
> means “is greater than”
 means ”is greater than or equal
to”
Reading Inequalities 6 < 8 or 8 > 6

1. 3 < n n is greater than 3.

2. 4  n n is greater than or equal to 4.

3. -2  n  1 n is greater than or equal to -2

but less than or equal to 1.
 Read the following
inequalities
1. 0 < a < 3 a is greater than 0 but less than 3.

2. -5  b < 2 b is greater than or equal to -5 but

less than 2.
3. -7  d  -1 d is greater than or equal to -7 but
less than or equal to -1.

4. 9 > e e is less than 9

5. f > -1 f is greater than -1

6. 6  g g is less than or equal to 6

7. h  -4 h is greater than or equal to - 4

Displaying Inequalities on a
Number Line
j1

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

k  -2

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

m>4

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

n>0

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Displaying Inequalities on a
Number Line
p1

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

q  -2

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

r<4

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

s<0

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Displaying Inequalities on a
Number Line
-5  u 
5
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

-1 < v 
4
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

-5 < w <
0
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

-3  x <
6
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Displaying Inequalities on a
Number Line
-5  y 
5
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

-1 < z  4

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

-5 < a < 0

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

-3  b <
6
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
 State the inequalities
0x5 displayed on each number
line below.
1
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

-5 < y 
4 2
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

0<n<5
3
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

-5  m < -
3 4
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Example 1
Solve.
Example 2
Example 3
Try this (Work in pairs)
Try this ( Work in pairs)
Home work
Exercise 14.4
2( a- d)
Page 313
Example
Find the range of values of x that satisfy both 3x ≥ 2(x
– 1) and 10 - 3x > 6.

3x ≥ 2(x – 1) 10 - 3x > 6
3x ≥ 2x – 2 10 > 6 + 3x
x ≥ -2 4 > 3x
4 4
> x ORx <
3 3

4
And so -2 ≤ x <
3
Class Task Solve the following inequalities

a) 2x ≥ 16 j) 3x + 2 > 11

b) 10x ≥ -2 k) 2(x + 3) < 20

c) x + 2 > 5 l) 5(x + 2) ≥ 25

d) x + 4 ≥ 14 m) o) 5x – x ≥ 3x – 10
x
e) > 10 n) 7 – 2x > 4x - 8
2
x
f) < 20 o) -2x -7 ≥ 9
4
g) 3x + 12 < 30 p) 16 – x > 1

h) 2x – 7 ≥ 8 q) 12 – 3x < 18

i) 17 + 4x < 33 r) 7 – 2x ≤ 4x + 10
Starter

Find the coordinates of the

midpoint of the line segment EF
with endpoints E(–2, 3) and F(5,
–3).
 Inequalities and
Regions
Finding the region for a single
inequality y Shade the region for
which x + 2y ≥ 6
5
(2,4)
2 + 2 x 4 = 10 ≥ 6 
4
1. Draw the boundary
3
Boundary line line equation x + 2y
solid if 2 = 6.
x + 2y = 6  y = -½x +
inequality is
either ≤ or ≥ 1 3
x y intercept 3, gradient –
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 ½
-1

-2 2. Choose a test point in

-3 one of the 2 regions to
see whether or not it
-4 satisfies the inequality,
-5 then shade the required
region.
 Inequalities and
Regions
Finding the region for a single
Inequality y Shade the region for
which 2x - y < -1
5

4 2 x 3 - 1 = 5 > -1 
1. Draw the boundary
Boundary line 3
line equation 2x - y =
dotted if 2 -1
inequality is (3,1) 2x - y = -1  y = 2x + 1
either < or > 1
x y intercept 1, gradient 2
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
-1

-2 2. Choose a test point in

-3 one of the 2 regions to
see whether or not it
-4 satisfies the inequality
-5 then shade the required
region.
Try this
 Inequalities and
Regions
Finding the region for two inequalities
y
5 Shade and label with
the letter R, the region
4

3 R for which y ≥ 1 and x >

2.
Draw boundary line y =
2 1
Note or lightly shade the
1
region for which y ≥ 1.
x
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Draw boundary line x =
Boundary line 2 or lightly shade the
-1 Note
solid since
inequality is ≥ -2 region for which x > 2

Boundary line -3 Identify the overlapping

dotted since region that satisfies both
-4
inequality is > inequalities and label.
-5
 y
Shade and label with the
5 letter R, the region for
Boundary line which x + y < -2 and x ≤ 1
4 Boundary line
dotted since
solid since
inequality is < 3 inequality is ≤
Draw line x + y = -2  y = -x
– y2 intercept -2 and gradient -1
2
Note or lightly shade the
1
region for which x + y < -
x 2
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Draw line x = 1
-1 The origin Note or lightly shade the
(0.0) makes a region for which x ≤ 1
R
-2
useful test
-3 point.
Identify the overlapping
-4 region that satisfies both
inequalities and label.
-5
 Inequalities and
Regions
Inequalities that enclose a region of the
plane.
y
Shade and label with
5 Identify the the letter R, the region
overlapping for which y ≥ -3 and x >
4
region that 1 and 2x + y < 3
3 satisfies all 3
The origin inequalities Draw line y = -3
(0.0) makes a 2
and label. Note or lightly shade the
useful test
1
point. region for which y ≥ -3.
x
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Draw line x = 1
-1 Note or lightly shade the
-2 R region for which x > 1

-3 Draw line 2x + y = 3  y = -2x

+3
-4 Note or lightly
y intercept 3 andshade the- 2
gradient
region for which 2x + y < 3
-5
 y Shade and label with the
5
letter R, the region for
which y ≥ -3, x > -2, y
4 2x - 3 and x + y < 2
3 Draw line y = -3
The origin Draw line x + y = 2  y = -x +
(0.0) makes a 2 2yNote or lightly shade the
intercept 2, gradient 1
useful test region for which y ≥ -3.
1 Note or lightly shade the
point. Draw
x region x + y <line
2 x = -2
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Note or lightly shade the
-1 region for which x > -2
-2 R Identify the overlapping
Draw
regionline y =satisfies
that 2x – 3 all 4

-3
inequalities
y intercept -3and
and label.
gradient 2.

-4 Note or lightly shade the

region for which y  2x - 3
-5