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Inequalities: A B A B

The document discusses inequalities and comparing quantities using inequality signs such as <, >, and ≠. It explains that when comparing two amounts, the inequality sign is placed between the numbers with the open side toward the greater amount and the vertex side toward the lesser amount. Examples are provided to demonstrate comparing numbers on a number line as well as comparing fractions with different denominators. The summary also discusses the inequality symbols ≤ and ≥ and provides examples of their use.

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May Yadanar Nwe
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104 views6 pages

Inequalities: A B A B

The document discusses inequalities and comparing quantities using inequality signs such as <, >, and ≠. It explains that when comparing two amounts, the inequality sign is placed between the numbers with the open side toward the greater amount and the vertex side toward the lesser amount. Examples are provided to demonstrate comparing numbers on a number line as well as comparing fractions with different denominators. The summary also discusses the inequality symbols ≤ and ≥ and provides examples of their use.

Uploaded by

May Yadanar Nwe
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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Chapter 14

INEQUALITIES
An inequality is a mathematical sentence that is used to
compare quantities and contains one of the following signs:

a < b or “a is less than b”


a > b or “a is greater than b”
a b or “a is not equal to b”

OPEN SIDE > VERTEX SIDE


When using an inequality sign to compare two amounts,
place the sign in between the numbers with the “open”
side toward the greater amount and the “vertex” side
toward the lesser amount.

You can use a number line to compare


quantities. Numbers get smaller the
farther you go to the left, and larger
the farther you go to the right.
Whichever number is farther
to the left is “less than” the
number on its right.
79
EXAMPLE: Compare −2 and 4.

−2 is farther to the left than 4, so −2 < 4.

We can also reverse this expression


and say that 4 > −2 .

−2 < 4 is the same as 4 > −2 .

Remember that any negative number is always less


than zero, and any positive number is always greater
than zero and all negative numbers.

80
Just like when we add or subtract fractions with
different denominators, we have to make the
denominators the same when comparing fractions.

1 1
EXAMPLE: Compare - - and - - 
2 3
The LCM of 2 and 3 is 6.

1 •3 = - 3  
- -  - 
2•3 6

1 •2 = - 2
- -  - 
3•2 6

3 2
Compare - - and - -  .
6 6

-1 --
5 -4 -3 - 2 - 1
  -  -  -  -  0
6 6 6 6 6

3 2 1 1
- - < - - therefore  - - < - - 
6 6   2 3

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There are two other inequality symbols you should know:

a ≤ b or “a is less than or equal to b”


a ≥ b or “a is greater than or equal to b”

EXAMPLE: x ≤ 3, which means x can equal any number


less than or equal to 3.

3 and any number to the left of 3 will make this number


sentence true. The value of x could be 3, 2 , 1 , 0, −1 ,
and so on. But x could not be 4, 5, 6, and so on.

1
EXAMPLE: x ≥ - - 
2

1 1
- -  - 
2 and any number to the right of - 2 will make this
1
sentence true. The value of x could be 0, -  , 1 , and so on.
1 2
But x could not be -1 , -1 - 
2
, and so on.

82
1. Compare −12 and 8.

2. Compare −14 and −15.

3. Compare 0 and −8.

4. Compare 0.025 and 0.026.


2 4
5. Compare - and -  .
5 5
2 1
6. Compare - - and - - .
3 2
7. If y ≤ −4, list 3 values that y could be.

8. If m ≥ 0, list 3 values that m could NOT be.

9. Which is warmer: −5˚C , or −8˚C ?

10. Fill in the blanks: Whichever number is farther to the


left on a number line is the number
on its right.

answers 83
1. −12 < 8 or 8 > −12

2. −14 > −15 or −15 < −14

3. 0 > −8 or −8 < 0

4. 0.025 < 0.026 or 0.026 > 0.025

4
5. - > -
2
5 5
1
6. − - > − -
2
2 3
7. −4 and/or any number less than −4,
such as −5, −6, etc.

8. Any number less than 0, such as −1, −2, −3, etc.

9. −5˚C

10. Less than

#7 and #8 have more than one correct answer.

84

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