LESSON 2 The product of 3 and x added to 5 is less

than or equal to 11.

An inequality containing a variable is called

2.0 Linear Inequalities an open sentence. To solve such an
Review on Linear inequality, find the values of the variable for
which the inequality will be a true statement.
Inequalities The sentence -5 < x < 4, read as “ -5 is less
than x and x is less than 4” or “x is greater
than -5 and less than 4,” means that x
denotes any number between -5 and 4.

Example 1:
Such values are called the solutions of the If x ∈ {-2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3}, what is the solution set
inequality. of x + 5 ≤ 4?
Inequalities, like the more familiar
equations, are relationships expressed in
Substitute each of the values of x in the
mathematical form. Although less familiar
inequality
than equations, inequalities are frequently
x+5≤4
used in solving business problems which
-2 + 5 ≤ 4, true
cannot be expressed in the form of
-1 + 5 ≤ 4, true
equations or those which call for minimum
or maximum requirements. 0 + 5 ≤ 4, false
1 + 5 ≤ 4, false
2 + 5 ≤ 4, false
A distinction between the two is that, whereas,
equations use the equal sign (=), inequalities 3 + 5 ≤ 4, false
use any of the inequality symbols which are “<”
i.e. is less than,”>” i.e. is more than; “≤” i.e. Therefore, the solution set is (-2, -1).
less than or equal to; and “≥” i.e. greater than or
equal to. Extra care however, should be Example 2:
exercised in solving problems using inequalities Solve -1 ≤ x ≤ 5 and draw its graph if the
because the use of a wrong symbol would result domain of x is a set of real numbers.
a wrong answer.
Solution:
2.1 Solving Inequalities in One Variable For the inequality to be a true statement, x
must denote any number between -1 and
Definition: including -1, but not 5, therefore the solution
An inequality is a statement formed by placing set is the set of real numbers greater than
an inequality symbol (<, >, ≤, ≥) between or equal to -1 and less than 5.
numerical or variable expressions.

Here are two inequalities:

The graph includes all the points on the
5 > -2 number line from the graph, -1 up to, but not
5 is greater than -2 including the graph of 5. The open circle
shows that 5 is not a solution.
3x + 5 ≤ 11
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2.2 Equivalent Inequalities using the number line.

The following are the transformations of a

given inequality that will produce an
equivalent inequality or the same solution
set. The graph includes all the points on the
number line from the graph – 11 less than,
1. Substituting for either side of the but not including -11. The solution set {x: x
inequality an expression equivalent < -11} is an infinite set. The hollow point
to that side. shows that -11 is not a solution.
2. Adding to (or subtracting from) both
sides the same real number. To check:
3. Multiplying (or dividing) both sides by Choose a value of x that is less than -11,
the same positive number. say x = -12.
4. Multiplying (or dividing) both sides by
the same negative number and 8(�� − 3) + 1 > 3(4�� + 7)
reversing the order of inequality. 8(−12 − 3) + 1 > 3[4(−12) + 7]
8(−15) + 1 > 3(−48 + 7)
To solve an inequality, the same steps must −119 > −123,��������
be followed.
1. Simplify both sides of the inequality. If we try x = 1, the original inequality should
2. Use the inverse operations to cancel be false since 1 is not in the solution set.
any indicated additions or subtractions.
3. Use the inverse operations to cancel 8(�� − 3) + 1 > 3(4�� + 7)
any indicated multiplications or 8(1 − 3) + 1 > 3[4(1) + 7]
divisions. −16 + 1 > 3(11)
−15 > 33, ����������
Example 1:
Solve 8(�� − 3) + 1 > 3(4�� + 7) and Certain inequalities are true for all real
graph its solution set. numbers while others have no solutions.

Solution: Example:
The graph of the inequality is shown below
8(�� − 3) + 1 > 3(4�� + 7) 12�� + 44 −4�� > 44 Solve:
8�� − 24 + 1 > 12�� + 21 −4�� a. 5�� > 5 (�� + 5) b. 8��
8�� − 23 > 12�� + 21 Use the distributive axiom to simplify < 8(�� + 2)
8�� − 23 + 23 > 12�� + 21 each side.
+ 23 8�� > 12�� + 44 Add 23 to each side Solution:
8�� − 12�� > 12�� − a. 5�� > 5 ( �� + 5)
Subtract 12x from each side
−4<
44 order of the inequality. Since the inequality 0 > 25 is a
−4 5�� > 5�� + 25 false
�� < −11 0 > 25
Divide each side by -4 and reverse the

The solution set is {x: x < -11}. Therefore, the solution set is () or ∅.
statement, the inequality has no solution.

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 b. 8�� < 8 (�� + 2) Graph the equation by finding the intercepts
8�� < 8�� + 16 (0,3), (4,0).
0 < 16
Therefore, the boundary line will pass through
Since the inequality 0 < 16 is a true (0,3) and (4,0) and it is a solid line because of
statement, the inequality is satisfied by the ≤ symbol.
every real number. Therefore, the solution
set is ��. Using the origin (0,0) as the testing
point, 3�� + 4�� ≤ 12
2.3 Linear Inequalities in Two Variables 3 (0) + 4 (0) ≤ 12
0 ≤ 12,��������
The solution set of a linear inequalities in
two variables is a plane which can only be Therefore, the solution is the region
shown in a graph. It is the set of all containing the origin.
solutions of the inequality.
Graph the linear inequality.
The graph of a linear inequality in two
variables is half-plane or region in the plane. 3.5
A line divides the plane into two half-planes. 3
The line itself is the boundary.
2.5
2
Steps in graphing linear inequalities in two
1.5
variables.
1
1. Draw the graph of the boundary line. To find
the boundary line, transform the inequality 0.5
symbol to the equality sign and graph the 0
equation. If the boundary line is part of the 012345
solution (involving ≤ or ≥) draw a solid line,
likewise, if it is not part of the solution Example 2: Draw the inequality
(involving < or >) draw a dashed line.
�� < 2��
2. Choose any point not on the boundary
line as a test point, shade the half plane
Solution:
towards the test point if the loss point
Change the < to = in order to draw the
satisfies the inequality; otherwise shade
boundary line.
the opposite region.
3. The solution sets are the points that lie on
the shaded region. �� = 2��

Note: Unless the boundary line passes Since the intercepts are both (0,0) we get
through the origin, the origin is always an another point by assigning real values for x.
easy test point to use. x 0 2

Example 1: Graph the linear y 0 1

inequality 3�� + 4�� ≤ 12

Solution: Therefore, the boundary line will pass

Change ≤ to = to draw the boundary line through (0,0) and (2,1) and the line is a
3�� + 4 = 12 dashed line.
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We cannot use the origin as the testing point 3
12 2.5
since the line contains the origin. We get 10 2
another point on the boundary line say (2,2). 8
1.5
6
1
Substituting this to the inequality.
�� < 2�� 0.5
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5

Example 3: Graph the inequality

4
x≤4
2 < 2(2)
Solution:
The graph of the boundary line is parallel to
the y-axis.
Change ≤ to = to draw the line boundary line x =
4.
Intercept (4,0)
2
2 < 4,�������� Prove:
Let x = 0
x≤4
x ≤ 4, true

therefore, (0,0) is a point in the half-plane

and the graph is a solid line.
2.4 System of Inequalities in One or Two
0 Variables
We get a true statement.
The solution set of a system of equations is
the point of intersection while the common
solution set of inequalities is the intersection
of their solution sets. This is also known as
the feasible region.

Examples:
Graph the solution set of the following
systems of linear inequalities.
012345
1) �� + �� ≤ 6; �� − 2�� ≥ −4
Therefore, the region is the half-plane that
contains (2,2). a. Take the equations.

Graphing the inequality. �� + �� ≤ 6

�� − 2�� ≥ −4
 b. Solve for the x- and y-intercepts. �� − 2�� ≥ −4

�� + �� ≤ 6 x-intercept (-4,0)
y-intercept (0,2)
x-intercept (6,0)
y-intercept (0,6) c. Then sketch the graph.

Solution set for �� + �� ≤ 6

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7
7�� + 6�� = 42 (6,0) (0,7)
6
5 �� = 0
4
3 �� = 0
2
1
0
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0
02468
7
6 Thus, the intersection of their solution sets is
5 shown below.
4
3
2
1
0
-5 0 5 10 8

6
Solution set for �� − 2�� ≥ −4
2.5 4

2 2
1.5
0
1

0.5

0
2) 4�� + 3�� ≥ 12 Exercise 2.1
7�� + 6�� ≤ 42
�� ≥ 0
�� ≥ 0
Equation x y
intercept intercept

4�� + 3�� = 12 (3,0) (0,4)

02468

A. Solve each of the following inequalities and sketch the graph of the solution
set. 1. 6�� ≤ 2�� + 8

2. 4�� < �� + 25

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3. �� + 3�� > 20 + 4

4. 3�� + 1 ≥ 2�� − 5

5. 2�� ≤ 16 − 2��

6. �� + 7 < 15
�� < 8

7. 5�� < 25
�� > 5

8. −8�� > 24

�� < −3

9. 9�� < −18

�� > 2

10. �� + 2 < 3

�� < 1
B. Transform each statement into symbols.
1. 5 is less than 25.
2. 6 is greater than 4 and less than 7.
3. -30 is between -20 and -40.
4. 8 is greater than 4 and less than 1.
5. 0 is greater than -5/2 and less than 5.

C. Graph the given inequalities on the same coordinate

plane. 1. 3�� + 2�� ≤ 5; �� − 2�� ≤ 10

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2. �� − �� < −2; �� − �� > 2

3. �� ≥ 0; �� ≥ 0

4. �� > 1; �� < 24

D. Graph the solution set of each of the following systems of

inequalities: 1. �� + �� ≤ 5

3�� + 7�� ≤ 21
�� ≥ 2

�� ≥ 0

2. −�� + �� ≤ 1
2�� + 3�� ≥ 12

�� ≤ 4

�� ≤ 4

3. 3�� + �� ≥ 6
 4�� + 5�� ≤ 20

2�� + 5�� ≥ 10

4. 3�� + 5�� ≥ 15

�� ≥ 2
�� ≤ 4

�� ≤ 3
�� ≥ 2

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