SIMPLE INEQUALITIES

An inequality compares two quantities and typically uses one of these symbols:  < is less than is greater than   is less than or equal to is greater than or equal to

Additional Example 1: Completing an Inequality Compare. Write < or >. A. 23 – 14 6 9 6 > B. 5(12) 70 60 70 <

An inequality that contains a variable is an algebraic inequality. A number that makes an inequality true is a solution of the inequality. The set of all solutions is called the solution set. The solution set can be shown by graphing it on a number line.

Word Phrase Sample Solutions Inequality Sample Solutions Solution Set x is less than 5 x < 5 x = 4 4 < 5 x = 2.1 2.1 < 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Word Phrase Sample Solutions Inequality Sample Solutions Solution Set a is greater than 0 a is more than 0 a > 0 a = 7 7 > 0 a = 25 25 > 0 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3

Word Phrase Sample Solutions Inequality Sample Solutions Solution Set y is less than or equal to 2 y is at most 2 y  2 y = 0 0  2 y = 1.5 1.5  2 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3

Word Phrase Sample Solutions Inequality Sample Solutions Solution Set m is greater than or equal to 3 m is at least 3 m  3 m = 17 17  3 m = 3 3  3 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5