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Understanding Inequalities and Intervals

The document explains inequalities as relationships between expressions that are not equal, detailing open and closed intervals. It describes inequality signs and their representations on a number line, as well as how to combine and manipulate inequalities. Additionally, it provides guidance on determining the smallest integer for fractional inequalities.

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22 views2 pages

Understanding Inequalities and Intervals

The document explains inequalities as relationships between expressions that are not equal, detailing open and closed intervals. It describes inequality signs and their representations on a number line, as well as how to combine and manipulate inequalities. Additionally, it provides guidance on determining the smallest integer for fractional inequalities.

Uploaded by

lama agsam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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4/12/24 Inequalities

• An inequality is a relationship between two expressions that


aren't equal.

• Inequalities can represent either open intervals or closed


intervals:

(a) An open interval is a range of numbers without an


endpoint. x > 6 is an open interval. It means that x is any
number greater than 6 the range continues into positive
infinity from 6.
(b) A closed interval is a range of numbers with an endpoint.
10 ≤ x < 20 is a closed interval. It means that x is greater than
or equal to 10 and less than 20 the range starts at 10 and
ends at 20.
• Remember the inequality signs:

(a) <: "is less than". Is represented by an outlined circle in a


number line. Is not included in the range of numbers.

(b) >: "is more than". Is represented by an outlined circle in a
number line. 

(c) ≤: "is less than or equal to". Is represented by a filled-in
circle.

(d) ≥: "is more than or equal to". Is represented by a filled-in
circle.

• Equivalent inequalities are inequalities that have been


applied to the same operation, term by term. E.g: 2 < x < 8.
– (cont.) If we multiply each term in this inequality by, say, 2,
then we'll get an inequality that is equivalent to the original
one. So, 4 < x < 16 is equivalent to 2 < x < 8.

• Combining two inequalities into one:

(a) We want to combine n > 7 and n < 18.



(b) Switch the smaller inequality: 7 < n.

(c) Add the bigger inequality after the smaller one in its
new state. 

(d) So, 7 < n < 18 or "n is more than 7 and less than 18."

(e) Remember to make sure that the inequalities can be
legitimately combined. For example, n cannot be less
than 8 yet more than 14.
• If an inequality has a fractional number, the smallest integer
is immediately the next whole number after the fractional. In
the case of negative numbers, remember that the closer a
number is to zero, the bigger its value. E.g: when x ≥ 12¾, the
smallest integer is 13 (it cannot be 12 or 12¾). When x ≥ (-4½),
the smallest integer is 4.

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