# Linear Inequalities

This section covers:

(If you are graphing inequalities with two variables on a coordinate system, go here.)

Linear Inequalities are just like equations but the two sides may not be equal.  Instead of an equal sign, we use  (greater than),  (greater than or equal to),  (less than), or  (less than or equal to).  An inequality can also have a  (does not equal) sign, which simply means that that the variable can be anything but what you get for the answer.

Inequalities are basically solved the same way as equalities or equations, but we have to be a little more careful moving things like numbers and variables back and forth, since we’re not dealing with simply an equal sign.  Typically, when you solve them, you have a range of answers (meaning more than one answer), so we usually graph them on the number line.

Inequalities are used in situations where something has to be “at least” (like you must be at least 6 to ride a certain ride), or “at most” (like you need to spend at most $50 in the store). We’ll see these words when we get to the word problem section. Note that when we have < or > (without the equal), we use an open circle (or sometimes an open parentheses) when we’re graphing, and when have or , we have a closed circle (or sometimes a bracket) when we’re graphing (this is sometimes called inclusive). The way I remember this is when there is more pencil used to create the sign instead of the > sign, for example, there is more pencil used to create the closed circle as compared to the open circle. You must have the variable on the left hand side when you use these rules to know where to graph: • When you have the less than sign (<), you want to graph to the left (both start with “le”); when you have the greater than sign (>) you graph to the right. • You can also graph in the direction where the inequality sign is pointed. • You can also plug in a number to see if it works: if it works, it should be on the colored part of the number line – like 3 is for the inequality “x < 4” (since 3 is less than 4). Here are some examples, including the solutions in Interval Notation. Remember that with Interval Notation, you always go from lowest to highest number with “(“ (soft brackets) if the inequality doesn’t hit the point, and “[“ (hard brackets) if the inequality does hit the line. If you have to skip over any numbers, you do so by using the “U” sign, which means union, or put the things together. Note that when you solve an inequality, you pretend like the inequality is an equal sign. The only thing you have to worry about is multiplying or dividing by a negative number; when you do this, you have to reverse the inequality symbol (change < to >, or > to <). You can see an example of this in the last equation below. The reason we need to do this, is when we have a negative coefficient (what comes before the variable), we’d eventually have to move the variable with it’s coefficient to the other side and make it positive, so it would be on the other end of the inequality sign. At this point, we are not multiplying or dividing by variables (since we don’t know the signs of them); we will learn how to do that later. # Compound Inequalities Compound inequalities combine more than one inequality to get a solution. There are basically three different ways to write these, as shown below. Remember that “or” means either one can work, and “and” means that they both have to work. You can also think of this: “or” means that you only need one line when you graph the inequalities, “and” means you need both lines. Here are some examples; notice that can be written as (do you see why?): Try these by putting in numbers from the number line (in the pink, and not in the pink) to make sure you understand it! # Absolute Value and Inequalities (You might want to review Algebraic Equations with Absolute Value before continuing on to this topic.) When dealing with absolute values and inequalities (just like with absolute value equations), we have to separate the equation into two different ones, if there are any variables inside the absolute value bars. We first have to get the absolute value all by itself on the left. Now we have to separate the equations. We get the first equation by just taking away the absolute value sign away on the left. The easiest way to get the second equation is to take the absolute value sign away on the left, and do two things on the right: reverse the inequality sign, and change the sign of everything on the right (even if we have variables over there). We also have to think about whether or not to use “or” or “and” between the two new equations. The way I remember this is that with a or sign, you can put a little “o” in it after the absolute value, so you want to use the “or” (or remember, greater than starts with “g”, so think “gore”). For or signs, use “and” (you can remember less than starts with “l”, so think “land”). And again, if we get something like $$\left| {x+3} \right|<0$$, there is no solution, and something like $$\left| {x+3} \right|\ge -4$$, there are infinite solutions (all real numbers). Note that you can put absolute values in your Graphing Calculator (and even graph them!) by hitting MATH, scroll right to NUM, and then hitting 1 (abs) or ENTER. Examples of inequality situations (note that there more at the end of the Word Problems in Algebra section) Water is not a liquid unless its temperature is greater than 100º C or less than 0º C. This situation could be modeled as: t > 100 or t < 0. Example of absolute value inequality situation: Cruise control speeds should keep the speed of a car within 5 miles per hour of the 60 mile per hour speed limit. (Here’s the more “girly” example of this: I really want to go shopping, but I need to spend within$5 of $60.) These situations could be modeled as: So the speed of the car would be between (and including) 55 and 65 miles per hour. And I need to spend within (and including)$55 and \$65.

Learn these rules, and practice, practice, practice!

Click on Submit (the arrow to the right of the problem) to solve this problem. You can also type in more problems, or click on the 3 dots in the upper right hand corner to drill down for example problems.

If you click on “Tap to view steps”, you will go to the Mathway site, where you can register for the full version (steps included) of the software.  You can even get math worksheets.

You can also go to the Mathway site here, where you can register, or just use the software for free without the detailed solutions.  There is even a Mathway App for your mobile device.  Enjoy!

On to  Algebra Word Problems – you are ready!

## 7 thoughts on “Linear Inequalities”

1. Your site is helping me so much. I’m in Math 155–Int. Algebra–and find your explanations quite understandable.

• Thank you so much for your comment; sometimes I wonder if all this is helping someone and now I know! I want to keep writing and writing!

• Thank you so much for commenting, and I’m so so glad you’ve discovered the love of math! It’s so exciting to understand it and work problems! Congrats!
Lisa

2. x>=-1 and x>=4 with solution set [-1,to positive infinity]

I think this is wrong, must be [4, to positive infinity]
-1 >= -1 but -1>=4 is wrong
i don’t know if i am right or wrong, i am just curious

• Thanks for writing! You are absolutely correct – but on my page, I think I have an “or” and not an “and”? Or am I looking in the wrong place? Thanks, Lisa