Mathematics SKE: STRAND F UNIT F6 Solving Inequalities: Text

STRAND F: ALGEBRA
Unit 6 Solving Inequalities

Text

Contents

Section

F6.1 Inequalities on a Number Line

F6.2 Solution of Linear Inequalities (Inequations)

* F6.3 Inequalities Involving Quadratic Terms

* F6.4 Graphical Approach to Inequalities

* F6.5 Dealing With More Than One Inequality

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 Mathematics SKE, Strand F UNIT F6 Solving Inequalities: Text

F6 Solving Inequalities
F6.1 Inequalities on a Number Line
An inequality involves one of the four symbols
> , ≥ , < or ≤
The following statements illustrate the meaning of each of them.

x > 1 : x is greater than 1

x ≥ −2 : x is greater than or equal to − 2
x < 10 : x is less than 10
x ≤ 12 : x is less than or equal to 12

Inequalities can be represented on a number line, as shown in the following worked

examples.

Worked Example 1
Represent the following inequalities on a number line.
(a) x≥2 (b) x < −1 (c) −2 < x ≤ 4

Solution
(a) The inequality, x ≥ 2 , states that x must be greater than or equal to 2. This is
represented as shown.

2 1 0 1 2 3 4

Note that solid mark, • , is used at 2 to show that this value is included.

(b) The inequality x < −1 states that x must be less than −1. This is represented as
shown.

3 2 1 0 1 2 3

Note that a hollow mark, o , is used at −1 to show that this value is not included.

(c) The inequality − 2 < x ≤ 4 states that x is greater than − 2 and less than or equal
to 4. This is represented as shown.

3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Note that o is used at − 2 because this value is not included and • is used at 4
because this value is included.
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F6.1 Mathematics SKE, Strand F UNIT F6 Solving Inequalities: Text

Worked Example 2
Write an inequality to describe the region represented on each number line below.
(a)

2 1 0 1 2 3 4

(b)
2 1 0 1 2 3

Solution
(a) The diagram indicates that the value of x must be less than or equal to 3, which
would be written as
x≤3

(b) The diagram indicates that x must be greater than or equal to −1 and less than 3.
This is written as
−1 ≤ x < 3

Exercises
1. Represent each of the inequalities below on a number line.

(a) x>3 (b) x<4 (c) x > −1 (d) x<2

(e) x≥6 (f) x ≥ −4 (g) x≤3 (h) x ≤1
(i) 2≤x≤4 (j) −1 < x ≤ 2 (k) −2 < x < 2 (l) 1≤ x ≤ 3

2. Write down the inequality which describes the region shown in each diagram.

(a)
2 1 0 1 2

(b)
2 1 0 1 2

(c)
2 1 0 1 2

(d)
3 2 1 0 1 2 3

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F6.1 Mathematics SKE, Strand F UNIT F6 Solving Inequalities: Text

(e)
3 2 1 0 1 2

(f)
3 2 1 0 1 2 3

(g)
2 1 0 1 2 3

(h)
3 2 1 0 1 2 3

(i)
4 3 2 1 0 1 2

(j)
10 5 0 5 10 15

3. The speed limits on a road require drivers to travel at a minimum speed of

30 km/hr and a maximum speed of 70 km/hr.
(a) Copy the diagram below and represent this information on it.
The letter, V, is used to represent the speed.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

(b) Write down an inequality to describe your diagram.

4. Frozen chickens will be sold by a major chain of supermarkets only if their weight
is at least 1.2 kg and not more than 3.4 kg.
(a) Represent this information on a number line.
(b) Write an inequality to describe the region which you have marked.

5. List all the whole numbers which satisfy the inequalities below.
(a) 1≤ x ≤8 (b) 3< x<7
(c) 2≤x<5 (d) 3< x<6

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F6.1
6. List all the integers (positive or negative whole numbers) which satisfy the
inequalities below.
(a) −1 ≤ x ≤ 1 (b) −5 ≤ x ≤ −2
(c) −2 < x < 1 (d) −5 < x ≤ −3

7. Write down one fraction which satisfies the inequalities below.

1 1 1
(a) < x < 1 (b) < x <
2 4 2
1 1 1
(c) < x < (d) 0 < x <
3 2 3

8. List all the possible integer values of n such that

−3 ≤ n < 2

F6.2 Solution of Linear Inequalities

(Inequations)
Inequalities such as 6 x − 7 ≤ 5 can be simplified before solving them. The process is
similar to that used to solve equations.

Worked Example 1
Solve the inequality
6x − 7 ≤ 5
and illustrate the result on a number line.

Solution
Begin with the inequality
6x − 7 ≤ 5
Adding 7 to both sides gives
6 x ≤ 12
Dividing both sides by 6 gives
x ≤ 2

This is represented on the number line below.

2 1 0 1 2 3

Worked Example 2
Solve the inequality
4 ( x − 2) > 20

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F6.2

Solution
Begin with the inequality
4 ( x − 2) > 20

First divide both sides of the inequality by 4 to give

x−2 > 5

Then adding 2 to both sides of the inequality gives x > 7 .

Worked Example 3
Solve the inequality
5 − 6 x ≥ − 19

Solution
Begin with the inequality
5 − 6 x ≥ − 19

In this case, note that the inequality contains a ' − 6 x ' term. The first step here is to add 6x
to both sides, giving
5 ≥ − 19 + 6 x

Now 19 can be added to both sides to give

24 ≥ 6 x
Then dividing both sides by 6 gives
4 ≥ x
or x ≤ 4

Worked Example 4
Solve the inequality

− 10 < 6 x + 2 ≤ 32

Solution
Begin with the inequality
− 10 < 6 x + 2 ≤ 32

The same operation must be performed on each part of the inequality. The first step is to
subtract 2, which gives
− 12 < 6 x ≤ 30

Then dividing by 6 gives

−2 < x ≤ 5

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F6.2

The result can then be represented on a number line as shown below.

2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5

An alternative approach is to consider the inequality as two separate inequalities:

(1) − 10 < 6 x + 2 and (2) 6 x + 2 ≤ 32

These can be solved as shown below.

(1) − 10 < 6 x + 2 ( − 2) (2) 6 x + 2 ≤ 32 ( − 2)

− 12 < 6x ( ÷ 6) 6 x ≤ 30 ( ÷ 6)
−2 < x x ≤ 5

Both inequalities can then be displayed as shown below.

4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Where the two lines overlap gives the solution as

3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Exercises
1. Solve each inequality below and illustrate the solution on a number line.
(a) 4 x + 6 ≤ 18 (b) 5 x − 8 > 27 (c) 6 x + 7 < 37
2x − 6
(d) 5 x − 7 ≥ − 17 (e) < 1 (f) 4 (2 x − 3) ≥ − 8
4

2. Solve the following inequalities.

(a) 5 x − 6 < 29 (b) 7 x + 2 ≥ − 19 (c) 5 x − 8 ≤ 12
(d) 6x − 3 ≥ 1 (e) 5 x + 7 < 11 (f) 7x − 8 > − 2

(g) 4 − 2x ≥ − 8 (h) 5 − 6x < − 7 (i) 4 (2 − x ) ≥ − 8

3x − 4
(j) 7 + 4 x ≥ 19 (k) 6 − 5 x > − 10 (l) ≥ 3
2

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3. Solve each of the following inequalities and illustrate them on a number line.
(a) 5 < 3 x + 2 ≤ 11 (b) 3 ≤ 4 x − 5 < 15
(c) 11 ≤ 4 x + 7 < 27 (d) 5 < 6 x − 7 < 29
(e) − 24 ≤ 3 x − 9 ≤ − 14 (f) − 3 ≤ 4 x + 5 < 17

4. Solve each of the following inequalities.

(a) − 3 < 5x + 2 ≤ 6 (b) 1 ≤ 4 x − 7 < 11

(c) 22 < 3 ( x + 7) < 23 (d) − 8 ≤ 4 (2 x − 3) ≤ 3

1 4x + 5 6x − 1
(e) ≤ ≤ 1 (f) 1 < < 7
2 2 5
5. Clayton owns a barber's shop. It costs him £20 per day to cover his expenses and
he charges £ 4 for every haircut.
(a) Explain why his profit for any day is £ ( 4 x − 20) ), where x is the number of
haircuts in that day.
He hopes to make at least £50 profit per day, but does not intend to make more
than £120 profit.
(b) Write down an inequality to describe this situation.
(c) Solve the inequality.

6. The distance that a car can travel on a full tank of fuell varies between 200 and
320 miles.
(a) If m represents the distance (in miles) travelled on a full tank of fuel,
write down an inequality involving m.
(b) Distances in kilometres, k, are related to distances in miles by
5k
m =
8
Write down an alternative inequality involving k instead of m.
(c) Write down an inequality for the number of kilometres the car can travel
on a full tank of fuel.

7. A man finds that his electricity bill varies between £50 and £90.
(a) If C represents the size of his bill, write down an inequality involving C.

The bill is made up of a standing charge of £10 and a cost of 10 pence per kilowatt
hour of electricity.
(b) If n is the number of kilowatt hours used, write down a formula for C in
terms of n.
(c) Using your formula, write down an inequality involving n and solve this
inequality.

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F6.2 Mathematics SKE, Strand F UNIT F6 Solving Inequalities: Text

8. In an office, the temperature, F (in degrees Fahrenheit), must satisfy the inequality
60 ≤ F ≤ 70

The temperature, F, is related to the temperature, C (in degrees Centigrade), by

9
F = 32 +
C
5
Write down an inequality which involves C and solve this inequality.

9. (a) List all the integers which satisfy

−2 < n ≤ 3
(b) Scott said, "I thought of an integer, multiplied it by 3 then subtracted 2.
The answer was between 47 and 62."
List the integers that Scott could have used.

10. (a) x is an integer such that

−4 ≤ x < 2
(i) Make a list of all the possible values of x.
(ii) What is the largest possible value of x 2 ?

(b) Every week Rosie has a test in Mathematics. It is marked out of 20.
Rosie has always scored at least half the marks available. She has never
quite managed to score full marks.
Using x to represent Rosie's marks, write this information in the form of two
inequalities.

F6.3 Inequalities Involving Quadratic Terms

Inequalities involving x 2 rather than x can still be solved. For example, the inequality
x2 < 9
will be satisfied by any number between − 3 and 3. So the solution is written as
−3 < x < 3

3 2 1 0 1 2 3

If the inequality had been x 2 > 9 , then it would be satisfied if x was greater than 3 or if x
was less than − 3 . So the solution will be
x > 3 or x < − 3

3 2 1 0 1 2 3

The end points of the intervals are defined as 9 = ± 3.

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F6.3

Note
For this type of inequality it is very easy to find the end points but care must be taken
when deciding whether it is the region between the points or the region outside the points
which is required. Testing a point in a region will confirm whether your answer is correct.

For example, for x 2 > 9 , test x = 2 , which gives 4 > 9 . This is not true, so the region
between the points is the wrong region; the region outside the points is needed.

Worked Example 1
Show on a number line the solutions to:
(a) x 2 ≥ 16 (b) x 2 < 25

Solution
(a) The solution to x 2 ≥ 16 is
x ≤ −4 or x ≥ 4
which is shown below.

5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5

(b) The solution of x 2 < 25 is

−5 < x < 5
which is shown below.

5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5

Worked Example 2
Find the solutions of the inequalities
(a) x 2 + 6 > 15 (b) 3 x 2 − 7 ≤ 41

Solution
(a) By subtracting 6 from both sides, the inequality

x 2 + 6 > 15
becomes
x2 > 9
Then the solution is
x < −3 or x > 3

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(b) Begin with the inequality

3 x 2 − 7 ≤ 41
Adding 7 to both sides gives
3 x 2 ≤ 48
Dividing both sides by 3 gives
x 2 ≤ 16
Then the solution is
−4 ≤ x ≤ 4

Worked Example 3
Solve the inequality
x 2 − 3x − 4 > 0

Solution
The left-hand side of the inequality can be factorised to give

( x − 4) ( x + 1) > 0

The inequality will be equal to 0 when x = 4 and x = −1. This gives the end points of
the region as x = 4 and x = −1, as shown below.

2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5

Points in each region can now be tested.

x=2 gives −2 × 3 > 0 or −6 > 0 This is not true.

x = −2 gives − 6 × −1 > 0 or 6 > 0 This is true.
x=5 gives 1×6 > 0 or 6 > 0. This is true.

So the inequality is satisfied for values of x greater than 4, or for values of x less than −1.
This gives the solution
x < −1 or x > 4

2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5

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F6.3

Exercises
1. Illustrate the solutions to the following inequalities on a number line.
(a) x2 ≤ 1 (b) x2 ≥ 4 (c) x 2 ≥ 25

(d) x 2 < 49 (e) x 2 > 36 (f) x2 > 4

(g) x 2 ≥ 6.25 (h) x 2 < 0.25 (i) x 2 ≥ 2.25

2. Find the solutions of the following inequalities:

(a) x 2 + 6 ≥ 22 (b) 3x 2 − 4 ≥ 8 (c) 5 x 2 − 20 < 105

(d) 4x2 < 1 (e) 9x2 ≥ 4 (f) 25 x 2 − 2 ≥ 2

x2 + 6
(g) 36 x 2 + 7 ≤ 11 (h) (
2 x2 − 5 < 8 ) (i)
2
≥ 53

(j) 10 − x 2 > 6 (k) 15 − 2 x 2 ≤ − 3 (l) 10 ≤ 12 − 8 x 2

3. Find the solutions of the following inequalities.

(a) ( x − 2) ( x + 3) ≥ 0 (b) ( x − 5) ( x − 2) ≤ 0

(c) x ( x − 5) > 0 (d) x2 − 6x ≤ 0

(e) x 2 − 7 x + 10 < 0 (f) x 2 + x − 12 > 0

(g) 2x2 − x − 1 ≥ 0 (h) 2x2 + x − 6 ≤ 0

4. The area, A, of the square shown satisfies the inequality

9 ≤ A ≤ 16
x
Find an inequality which x satisfies and solve it, giving
an inequality for the possible dimensions of the square. x

5. (a) Write down an expression, in terms of x, for the area, A, of the rectangle
below.

2x

4x

(b) If the area, A, of the rectangle satisfies the inequality

32 ≤ A ≤ 200
write down an inequality for x and solve it.
(c) What is the maximum (horizontal) length of the rectangle?
(d) What is the minimum (vertical) width of the rectangle?

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F6.3
6. Solve the following inequalities for x.

(a) 1 + 3x < 7 (b) x2 < 1

7. (a) Show that the roots of the equation

3 1
x 2 − 3 x + 1 = 0, are ± 5
2 2
(b) Determine the set of values of x for which x 2 + 1 > 3 x .

Investigation
Find the number of points (x, y) where x and y are positive integers which lie on the line
3 x + 4 y = 29 .

F6.4 Graphical Approach to Inequalities

When an inequality involves two variables, the inequality can be represented by a region
on a graph. For example, the inequality y
x+y ≥ 4
is illustrated on the graph on the right. 7

6
The coordinates of any point in the
shaded area satisfy x + y ≥ 4 . 5 x+y≥4
4

2
Note
1
The coordinates of any point on the
line satisfy x + y = 4 . x
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

x+y=4
y

6
If the inequality had been x + y > 4 ,
5
then a dashed line would have been
x+y>4
used to show that points on the line 4
do not satisfy the inequality, as in
3
the second graph.
2

x
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

x+y=4
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F6.4 Mathematics SKE, Strand F UNIT F6 Solving Inequalities: Text

Worked Example 1
Shade the region which satisfies the inequality y y = 4x − 7

y ≥ 4x − 7 5 (3, 5)

Solution 4

3
The region has the line y = 4 x − 7 as a boundary,
so first of all the line y = 4 x − 7 is drawn. 2 (3, 2)

1 (2, 1)
The coordinates of 3 points on this line are
x
–2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5
(0, − 7) , (2, 1) and (3, 5)
–1

These points are plotted and a solid line is –2

drawn through them.
–3

A solid line is drawn as the inequality contains –4

a ' ≥ ' sign which means that points on the
boundary are included. –5

–6
Next, select a point such as (3, 2). (It does not
matter on which side of the line the point lies.) –7 (0, –7)

If the values, x = 3 and y = 2 , are substituted

into the inequality, we obtain

2 ≥ ( 4 × 3) − 7 or 2 ≥ 5
This statement is clearly false and will also be false for any point on that side of the line.

y y = 4x − 7

5
y ≥ 4x − 7
4

3
Therefore the other side of the line
2 (3, 2)
should be shaded, as shown.
1

x
–2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5
–1

–2

–3

–4

–5

–6

–7

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F6.4

Worked Example 2
Shade the region which satisfies the inequality
x + 2 y < 10

Solution
The line x + 2 y = 10 will form the boundary of the region, but will not itself be
included in the region. To show this, the line should be drawn as a dashed line.

Before drawing the line, it helps to rearrange the equation as

10 − x
y =
2

Now 3 points on the line can be calculated, for example (0, 5) , (2, 4) and ( 4, 3) .
This line is shown below.
y

(0, 5)
5

4
(2, 4)

3 (4, 3)
(2, 3)
2

1 x + 2 y = 10
x
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Next, a point on one side of the line is selected, for example (2, 3) , where x = 2 and
y = 3. Substituting these values for x and y into the inequality gives
2 + 2 × 3 < 10 or 8 < 10

This is clearly true and so points on this side of the line will satisfy the inequality. This
side of the line can now be shaded, as below.
y

6 x + 2 y < 10

3
(2, 3)
2

x + 2 y = 10
1

x
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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F6.4 Mathematics SKE, Strand F UNIT F6 Solving Inequalities: Text

Challenge!
Without using a calculator or a table, determine which is larger, ( 10 + )
29 or 73 .

Exercises
1. Use sets of axes with x and y values from − 6 to 6 to show the regions which the
following inequalities satisfy.
(a) y ≥ x (b) y > x+2 (c) y < x −1
(d) y > x+4 (e) y ≤ x−3 (f) y ≥ 2x + 1
(g) y ≤ 3x − 4 (h) y > 4 − 2x (i) x + y ≥ −2
(j) 2x + y ≥ 5 (k) 4x + y ≥ 2 (l) x + 4y < 3

2. For each region below,

(i) find the equation of the line which forms the boundary, and
(ii) find the inequality represented by the region.
y y
(a) (b)

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1

x x
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

(c) y (d) y

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1

x x
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

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F6.4
y y
(e) (f)

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1

x x
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

3. (a) On the same set of axes, shade the regions which satisfy the inequalities
x+y ≥ 3 and x+y ≤ 5
Which inequality is satisfied by the region shaded twice?

(b) Shade the region which satisfies the inequality 2 ≤ x − y ≤ 4 .

4. (a) Draw the graph of y = x 2 and shade the region which satisfies the
inequality y ≤ x 2 .
(b) On the same set of axes, draw the graphs of
y = x 2 + 1 and y = x 2 − 1
Shade the region which satisfies the inequality, x 2 − 1 < y < x 2 + 1 .

F6.5 Dealing With More Than One Inequality

If more than one inequality has to be satisfied, then the required region will have more than
one boundary. The diagram below shows the inequalities x ≥ 1, y ≥ 1 and x + y ≤ 6 .
y

7
x ≥1
6

5 y≥1
4
x+ y≤6
3

x
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

The triangle indicated by bold lines has all three shadings. The points inside this region,
including those points on each of the boundaries, satisfy all three inequalities.

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F6.5 Mathematics SKE, Strand F UNIT F6 Solving Inequalities: Text

Worked Example 1
Find the region which satisfies the inequalities
x ≤ 4, y ≤ 2x , y ≥ x + 1
Write down the coordinates of the vertices of this region.

Solution y

First shade the region which is

7
satisfied by the inequality
6
x≤4
5

4 x≤4

x
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
y

6
x≤4
Then add the region which
satisfies
5
y ≤ 2x y ≤ 2x
4
using a different type of
3 shading, as shown.
2

0 x
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

y
Finally, add the region
which is satisfied by 7

y ≥ x +1 6
using a third type of shading. 5 x≤4

The region which has been 4 y ≤ 2x

shaded in all three different 3
ways (the triangle outlined in y≥ x +1
bold) satisfies all three inequalities. 2

1
The coordinates of its vertices
can be seen from the diagram as 0 x
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
(1, 2) , (4, 5) and (4, 8).
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F6.5

Note
When a large number of inequalities are involved, and therefore a greater amount of
shading, the required region becomes more difficult to see on the graph.
Therefore it is better to shade out rather shade in, leaving the required region unshaded.
This method is used in the following example, where 'shadow' shading indicates the side
of the line which does not satisfy the relevant inequality. The region where all the
inequalities are true is called the feasible region. All points inside the feasible region
satisfy all the inequalities.

Worked Example 2
A small factory employs people at two rates of pay. The maximum number of people
who can be employed is 10. More workers are employed on the lower rate than on the
higher rate.
Describe this situation using inequalities, and draw a graph to show the feasible region in
which they are satisfied.

Solution
Let x = number employed at the lower rate of pay,
and y = number employed at the higher rate of pay.
The maximum number of people who can be employed is 10, so x + y ≤ 10 .
As more people are employed at the lower rate than the higher rate, then x > y .
As neither x nor y can be negative, then x ≥ 0 and y ≥ 0 .
These inequalities are represented on the graph below.
y

y≥0
1
1
1
0
x>y
9

6
x + y ≤ 10

1
x≥0
x
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 1
0 1

The triangle formed by the unshaded sides of each line is the region where all four
inequalities are satisfied. The dots indicate all the possible employment options. Note that
only integer values inside the region are possible solutions.

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F6.5 Mathematics SKE, Strand F UNIT F6 Solving Inequalities: Text

Note
Often there is a linear objective (e.g. profit or something similar) for which we need to
find its optimal value (e.g. maximum or minimum), subject to a number of inequalities.
This is called linear programming and it is an important topic.
We can solve linear programming problems easily by finding the value of the objective
function at each vertex of the feasible region. The maximum and minimum values must
occur at a vertex of the feasible region. We will illustrate this method in Worked
Example 3, below.

Worked Example 3
The shaded area in the diagram below shows the solution of a set of inequalities in x
and y. The variable x represents the number of boys in a cricket club and y represents the
number of girls in the cricket club.

y
y = 2x
20

15

10

feasible region
5

0 x
5 10 15 20 25
−4
y= x + 12
5

Use the graph above to answer the questions which follow.

(a) State, using arguments based on the graph, whether the cricket club can have as
members:
(i) 10 boys and 5 girls
(ii) 6 boys and 6 girls.
(b) Write down the set of THREE inequalities that define the shaded region.
(c) A company sells shirts for the club and makes a profit of £3.00 on a boy's
shirt and £5.00 on a girl's shirt.
(i) Write an expression in x and y that represents the total profit made by the
company on the sale of shirts.
(ii) Calculate the minimum profit the company can make.

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F6.5 Mathematics SKE, Strand F UNIT F6 Solving Inequalities: Text

Solution
(a) (i) No, as point (10, 5) is not in the feasible region.
(ii) Yes, as point (6, 6) is in the feasible region.
4x
(b) y≤− + 12 ; y ≥ 2; y ≤ 2x
5
(c) (i) P = 3x + 5y

(ii) The vertices are at (1, 2), ( 4 27 , 8 47 ), (12 12 , 2 ) and the corresponding values
of P are £13, £55 57 , £47 12 .
So the minimum profit is at (1, 2) of value £13.

Exercises
1. On a suitable set of axes, show by shading the regions which satisfy both the
inequalities given below.
(a) x ≥ 4 (b) x < 7 (c) x ≥ −2
y<8 y ≥ 1 y ≥ 4

(d) x+y ≥ 2 (e) x+y ≤ 4 (f) x ≥ y

y < 6 x+y > 1 x > 1

(g) y ≤ 2x (h) y ≥ 2x (i) y ≥ x

y ≥ x+2 y ≤ 3x y ≤ x+3

2. For each set of three inequalities, draw graphs to show the regions which they all
satisfy. List the coordinates of the points which form the vertices of each region.
(a) x ≥ 2 (b) x ≥ 0 (c) x > −2
y ≥ x +1 x ≤ 5 y ≤ 2x + 3
y ≤ 3x y ≥ x y ≥ x−2

(d) x+y < 6 (e) y ≤ 2x + 1 (f) y > x −1

x > 2 y ≥ x −1 y > 2−x
y ≤ 3 x ≥ 2 y ≥ 4

3. Each diagram shows a region which satisfies 3 inequalities. Find the three
inequalities in each case.
y y
(a) (b)
6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1

x x
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

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F6.5 Mathematics SKE, Strand F UNIT F6 Solving Inequalities: Text

y y
(c) (d)
6 3

5 2
4 1
3 x
–3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3
2 –1

1 –2
x –3
0 1 2 3 4 5 6

y y
(e) (f)
3 3

2 2

1 1

x x
–3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3
– –1
1
– –2
2
– –3
3

4. At a certain shop, DVDs cost £10 and CDs cost £8 . Andrew goes into the shop
with £40 to spend.
(a) If x = the number of DVDs
and y = the number of CDs
which Andrew buys, explain why
10 x + 8 y ≤ 40

(b) Explain why x ≥ 0 and y ≥ 0 .

(c) Draw a graph to show the region which satisfies all three inequalities.

5. A security firm employs people to work on foot patrol or to patrol areas in cars.
Every night a maximum of 12 people are employed, with at least two people on
foot patrol and one person patrolling in a car.
(a) If x = the number of people on foot patrol
and y = the number of people patrolling in cars,
complete the inequalities below.
(i) x+y ≤ ? (ii) x ≥ ? (iii) y ≥ ?

(b) Draw a graph to show the region which satisfies these inequalities.

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F6.5 Mathematics SKE, Strand F UNIT F6 Solving Inequalities: Text

6. In organising the sizes of classes, a head teacher decides that the number of
students in each class must never be more than 30, that there must never be more
than 20 boys in a class and that there must never be more than 22 girls in a class.
(a) If x = the number of boys in a class
and y = the number of girls in a class,
complete the inequalities below.
(i) x+y ≤ ? (ii) x ≤ ? (iii) y ≤ ?

(b) The values of x and y can never be negative. Write down two further
inequalities.
(c) Draw a diagram to show the region which satisfies all the inequalities
above.

7. Ice cream sundaes are sold for either £1 or £2 . Victoria is going to buy sundaes
for some of the 6 members of her family, but only has £10 to spend.

Use x = the number of £1 sundaes bought

and y = the number of £2 sundaes bought.
(a) Write down 4 inequalities which describe the situation above.
(b) Draw a diagram to show the region which satisfies all four inequalities.

1
8. The diagram below shows a triangular region bounded by the lines y = x + 5,
6
5
y=− x + 5 and the line HK.
8
y

H
6 1
y= x+5
G 6

2 5
y=− x+5
K 8

0 2 4 6 8 x

(a) Write the equation of the line HK.

(b) Write the set of three inequalities which define the shaded region GHK.

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 Mathematics SKE, Strand F UNIT F6 Solving Inequalities: Text
F6.5
9. The school hall seats a maximum audience of 200 people for performances.
Tickets for the Christmas concert cost £2 or £3 each. The school needs to raise at
least £450 from this concert. It is decided that the number of £3 tickets must not
be greater than twice the number of £2 tickets.
There are x tickets at £2 each and y tickets at £3 each.
(a) Explain why
(i) x + y ≤ 200 (ii) 2 x + 3 y ≥ 450 (iii) y ≤ 2x

The graphs of x + y = 200 , 2 x + 3 y = 450 and y = 2 x are drawn on the

grid below. y

y = 2x
200

100

x + y = 200 2 x + 3 y = 450
x
0 100 200 300

(b) Copy the grid and show by shading the region of the grid which satisfies
all three inequalities in (a).

(c) (i) Hence find the number of £2 and £3 tickets which should be sold to
obtain the maximum profit.
(ii) State this profit.

10. (a) Find all integer values of n which satisfy the inequality
1 ≤ 2 n − 5 < 10

(b) Copy the following diagram and label with the letter 'R' the single region
which satisfies all the inequalities
x ≥ 0 , y ≥ x , y ≤ 2 x + 1, y ≤ 8 − x

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F6.5 Mathematics SKE, Strand F UNIT F6 Solving Inequalities: Text

x = 0

y = 2x + 1 y = x

x + y =8
1

0 y = 0

11. At each performance of a school play, the number of people in the audience must
satisfy the following conditions.
(i) The number of children must be less than 250.
(ii) The maximum size of the audience must be 300.
(iii) There must be at least twice as many children as adults in the audience.

On any one evening there are x children and y adults in the audience.
(a) Write down the three inequalities which x and y must satisfy, other than
x ≥ 0 and y ≥ 0 .

(b) By drawing straight lines and shading on a suitable grid, indicate

the region within which x and y must lie to satisfy all the inequalities.

Tickets for each performance cost £3 for a child and £4 for an adult.
(c) Use your diagram to find the maximum possible income from ticket sales
for one performance.

To make a profit, the income from ticket sales must be at least £600 .
(d) Use your diagram to find the least number of children's tickets which must
be sold for a performance to make a profit.

12. Rose makes hanging baskets which she sells at her local market. She makes two
types, large and small. Rose makes x large baskets and y small baskets.
Each large basket costs £7 to make an each small basket costs £5 to make. Rose
has £350 she can spend on making the baskets.
(a) Write down an inequality, in terms of x and y, to model this constraint.

Two further constraints are

y ≤ 35 and
y ≤ 4x

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F6.5 Mathematics SKE, Strand F UNIT F6 Solving Inequalities: Text

(b) Use these two constraint to write down statements that describe the numbers
of large and small baskets that Rose can make.
(c) On a suitable grid, show these three constraints and x ≥ 0, y ≥ 0 . Hence
label the feasible region, R.

Rose makes a profit of £2 on each large basket and £3 on each small basket. Rose
wishes to maximise her profit, £P .
(d) Write down the objective function.
(e) Use your graph to determine the optimal numbers of large and small baskets
Rose should make, and state the optimal profit.

13. In order to supplement his daily diet Damien wishes to take some Xtravit and
some Yeastalife tablets. Their contents of iron, calcium and vitamins (in
milligrams per tablet) are shown in the table.

Tablet Iron Calcium Vitamin

Xtravit 6 3 2

Yeastalife 2 3 4

(a) By taking x tablets of Xtravit and y tablets of Yeastalife Damien expects

to receive at least 18 milligrams of iron, 21 milligrams of calcium and
16 milligrams of vitamins. Write these conditions down as three inequalities
in x and y.
(b) In a coordinate plane illustrate the region of those points (x, y) which
simultaneously satisfy x ≥ 0, y ≥ 0 , and the three inequalities in (a).
(c) If the Xtravit tablets cost 10 pence each and the Yeastalife tablets cost
5 pence each, how many tablets of each should Damien take in order to
satisfy the above requirements at the minimum cost?

Challenge!
Two travellers, one carrying 5 buns and the other 3 buns, met a very rich Arab in a desert.
The Arab was very hungry and, as he had no food, the two men shared their buns and
each of the men had an equal share of the 8 buns.
In return for their kindness, the Arab gave them 8 gold coins and told them to share the
money fairly.
The second traveller, who had contributed 3 buns, said that he should receive 3 gold coins
and the other 5 gold coins should go to the first traveller. However the latter said that he
should get more than 5 gold coins as he had given the Arab more of his buns.
They could not agree and so a fight started. Can you help them to solve their problem?

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