Inequalities

INEQUALITY A mathematical sentence that compares two unequal expressions using one of the symbols <, >, ≤, ≥, or ≠.

< ≤ > ≥ SYMBOL MEANING KEY WORDS TO HELP DECIDE WHAT SYMBOL TO USE < Is less than Fewer than, below ≤ Is less than or equal to At most, no more than > Is greater than More than, above ≥ Is greater than or equal to At least, no less than

Writing Inequalities X < 5 X ≤ 7 X > 3 X ≥ 4 A number less than 5. X < 5 A number less than or equal to 7. X ≤ 7 A number greater than 3. X > 3 A number greater than or equal to 4. X ≥ 4 The solution of an inequality is the set of numbers that you can substitute for the variable to make the inequality true. So what are some possible solutions for the inequalities above?

Graphing Inequalities on a # Line

< ≤ > ≥ Less Than Greater Than X < 7 x  2 X > 4 x  4 Place an OPEN CIRCLE on the number, and shade all numbers less than your answer. X < 7 Less Than or Equal To ≤ Place a CLOSED CIRCLE on the number, and shade all numbers LESS than your answer. x  2 Greater Than > Place an OPEN CIRCLE on the number, and shade all numbers greater than your answer. X > 4 Greater Than or Equal To ≥ Place a CLOSED CIRCLE on the number, and shade all numbers GREATER than your answer. x  4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Classwork finish for Homework: page 91 (1-12, 28,29,34) HINT: Be careful when it says 5<b,think b>5 and graph the solutions.