1. Chapter 2
Section 8

2. Solving Linear Inequalities
2.8
Solving Linear Inequalities
Graph intervals on a number line.
Use the addition property of inequality.
Use the multiplication property of inequality.
Solve linear inequalities by using both properties of inequality.
Solve applied problems by using inequalities.
Solve linear inequalities with three parts. 2 3 4 5 6

3. Linear Inequality in One Variable
Definition.
An inequality is an algebraic expression related by
< “is less than,” ≤ “is less than or equal to,”
> “is greater than,” or ≥ “is greater than or equal to.”
Linear Inequality in One Variable
A linear inequality in one variable can be written in the form
where A, B, and C represent real numbers, and A ≠ 0.
We solve an inequality by finding all real number solutions of it. For example, the solution set {x | x ≤ 2} includes all real numbers that are less than or equal to 2, not just the integers less than or equal to 2.
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4. Graph intervals on a number line.
Objective 1
Graph intervals on a number line.
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5. Graph intervals on a number line.
Graphing is a good way to show the solution set of an inequality.
We graph all the real numbers belonging to the set {x | x ≤ 2} by placing a square bracket at 2 on a number line and drawing an arrow extending from the bracket to the left (to represent the fact that all numbers less than 2 are also part of the graph).
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6. Graph intervals on a number line. (cont’d)
The set of numbers less than or equal to 2 is an example of an interval on the number line. To write intervals, we use interval notation. For example, the interval of all numbers less than or equal to 2 is written (−∞, 2].
The negative infinity symbol −∞ does not indicate a number, but shows that the interval includes all real numbers less than 2.
As on the number line, the square bracket indicates that 2 is part of the solution.
A parentheses is always used next to the infinity symbol. The set of real numbers is written as (−∞, ∞).
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7. Graphing Intervals on a Number Line
EXAMPLE 1
Graphing Intervals on a Number Line
Write each inequality in interval notation, and graph the interval.
Solution:
Solution:
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8. Graph intervals on a number line. (cont’d)
Keep the following important concepts regarding interval notation in mind:
1. A parenthesis indicates that an endpoint is not included in a solution set.
2. A bracket indicates that an endpoint is included in a solution set.
3. A parenthesis is always used next to an infinity symbol, −∞ or ∞.
4. The set of all real numbers is written in interval notation as (−∞,∞).
Some texts use a solid circle ● rather than a square bracket to indicate the endpoint is included in a number line graph. An open circle is used to indicate noninclusion, rather than a parentheses.
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9. Use the addition property of inequality.
Objective 2
Use the addition property of inequality.
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10. Addition Property of Inequality
Use the addition property of inequality.
Addition Property of Inequality
If A, B, and C represent real numbers, then the inequalities
and
Have exactly the same solutions.
That is, the same number may be added to each side of an inequality without changing the solutions.
As with the addition property of equality, the same number may be subtracted from each side of an inequality.
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11. Use the addition property of inequality. (cont’d)
Because an inequality has many solutions, we cannot check all of them by substitutions as we did with the single solution of an equation. Thus, to check the solutions of an inequality, first substitute into the equation the boundary point of the interval and another number from within the interval to test that they both result in true statements. Next, substitute any number outside the interval to be sure it gives a false statement.
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12. Using the Addition Property of Inequality
EXAMPLE 2
Using the Addition Property of Inequality
Solve the inequality, and graph the solution set.
Solution:
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13. Use the multiplication property of inequality.
Objective 3
Use the multiplication property of inequality.
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14. Use the multiplication property of inequality.
The addition property of inequality cannot be used to solve an inequality such as 4x ≥ 28. This inequality requires the multiplication.
Multiply each side of the inequality 3 < 7 by the positive number 2.
True
Now multiply by each side of 3 < 7 by the negative number −5.
False
To get a true statement when multiplying each side by −5, we must reverse the direction of the inequality symbol.
True
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15. Multiplication Property of Inequality
Use the multiplication property of inequality. (cont’d)
Multiplication Property of Inequality
If A, B, and C, with C ≠ 0,
1. if C is positive, then the inequalities
and
have exactly the same solutions;
2. if C is negative, then the inequalities
have exactly the same solutions.
That is, each of an inequality may be multiplied by the same positive number without changing the solutions. If the multiplier is negative, we must reverse the direction of the inequality symbol.
As with the multiplication property of inequality, the same nonzero number may be divided into each side of an inequality.
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16. Using the Multiplication Property of Inequality
EXAMPLE 3
Using the Multiplication Property of Inequality
Solve the inequality, and graph the solution set.
Solution:
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17. Solve linear inequalities by using both properties of inequality.
Objective 4
Solve linear inequalities by using both properties of inequality.
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18. Solving a Linear Inequality
Solve linear inequalities by using both properties of inequality.
Solving a Linear Inequality
Step 1: Simplify each side separately. Use the distributive property to clear parentheses and combine like terms on each side as needed.
Step 2: Isolate the variable terms on one side. Use the addition property of inequality to get all terms with variables on one side of the inequality and all numbers on the other side.
Step 3: Isolate the variable. Use the multiplication property of inequality to change the inequality to the form “variable < k” or “variable > k,” where k is a number.
Remember: Reverse the direction of the inequality symbol only when multiplying or dividing each side of an inequality by a negative number..
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19. Solving a Linear Inequality
EXAMPLE 4
Solving a Linear Inequality
Solve the inequality, and then graph the solution set.
Solution:
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20. Solving a Linear Inequality
EXAMPLE 5
Solving a Linear Inequality
Solve the inequality, and graph the solution set.
Solution:
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21. Solve applied problems by using inequalities.
Objective 5
Solve applied problems by using inequalities.
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22. Solve applied problems by using inequalities.
Inequalities can be used to solve applied problems involving phrases that suggest inequality. The table gives some of the more common such phrases, along with examples and translations.
In general, to find the average of n numbers, add the numbers and divide by n. We use the same six problem-solving steps from Section 2.4, changing Step 3 to “Write an inequality.”, instead of “Write an equation.”
Do not confuse statements such as “5 is more than a number” with phrases like “5 more than a number.” The first of these is expressed as 5 > x, while the second is expressed as x + 5 or 5 + x.
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23. Finding an Average Test Score
EXAMPLE 6
Finding an Average Test Score
Maggie has scores of 98, 86, and 88 on her first three tests in algebra. If she wants an average of at least 90 after her fourth test, what score must she make on that test?
Solution:
Let x = Maggie’s fourth test score.
Maggie must get greater than or equal to an 88.
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24. Solve linear inequalities with three parts.
Objective 6
Solve linear inequalities with three parts.
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25. Solve linear inequalities with three parts.
Inequalities that say the one number is between two other numbers are three-part inequalities.
For example,
says that 5 is between −3 and 7.
For some applications, it is necessary to work with a three-part inequality such as
where x +2 is between 3 and 8. To solve this inequality, we subtract 2 from each of the three parts of the inequality.
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26. Solve linear inequalities with three parts. (cont’d)
The idea is to get the inequality in the form
a number < x < another number,
using “is less than.” The solution set can then easily be graphed.
When inequalities have three parts, the order of the parts is important. It would be wrong to write an inequality as 8 < x + 2 < 3, since this would imply 8 < 3, a false statement. In general, three-part inequalities are written so that the symbols point in the same direction and both point toward the lesser number.
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27. Solving Three-Part Inequalities
EXAMPLE 7
Solving Three-Part Inequalities
Write the inequality in interval notation, and graph the interval.
Solution:
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28. Solving Three-Part Inequalities
EXAMPLE 8
Solving Three-Part Inequalities
Solve the inequality, and graph the solution set.
Solution:
Remember to work with all three parts of the inequality.
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