Chapter Sixteen

LINEAR INEQUALITIES

16.1: Inequality Symbols

In this section, we need to remind ourselves of the following symbols:
> means greater than, e.g., 5 > 2.
< means less than, e.g., 4 < 7.
> means greater than or equal to.
< means less than or equal to.
Statements connected by these symbols are called inequalities.
Simple Statements
Whereas x = 2 represents a specific number, x > 2 does not. It represents all
numbers to the right of 2, as illustrated on the number line below:
x>2
—I 1 1 1 1 1 1 » 1 1 H*-
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Fig. 16.1

In figure 16.1, the empty circle around the number 2 means that 2 is not included
in the list of numbers to the right of it.
The expression x > 2 on the other hand means that 2 is included in the list
of numbers to the right of it. This information can be illustrated on the number
line as in figure 16.2:
x >2
l 1 1 1 1 1 1 • 1 1 1-*-
- 5 - 4 - 3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5

Fig. 16.2
Note that the circle around 2 is now shaded to show that 2 is also included.
Exercise 16.1
Illustrate each of the following inequalities on the number line:
1. (a) x < 7 (b) x > - 3 (c) x < 0 id) x < - 5
2. (a) x < - 1 0 (b) x < ^ t (c) x > - 6 id) x < 2.5

3. (a) x < - i (b) x < - 2 . 3

Compound Statements
Sometimes we may be required to represent on a number line all values
of x which satisfy two conditions simultaneously, e.g., x > 2 and x < 8.
214 SECONDARY MATHEMATICS

Combined into a one compound statement, the two become;

2< x < 8
This is illustrated in figure 16.3. The compound statement 2 < x < 8 represents
an interval with 2 and 8 as its endpoints, but 2 is not included.
1 1 1 1 1 1 • I I I ) ) • »
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
2<x<8

Fig. 16.3

Example 1
Write each of the following pairs of simple statements into compound statements
and illustrate them on a number line:
(a) x > - 4 , x < 2
(b) x < 0.5, x > 0
Solution
(i) -4 < x < 2

«0 I 1 1 1 1 0 !•+•
- 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 0 1 2 3

Fig. 16.4

(ii) 0 < x <0.5

-*—I 1 4> 0 1 1 •
-1 0 -0.5 0 0.5 1.0

Fig. 16.5

Exercise 16.2
1. Write each of the following pairs of simple statements as a compound
statement:
(a) x > 2 , x < 5 (b) x > 3 , x < 6
(c) x > l , x < 7 (d) x > - 4 , x < 0
(e) x > -3, x < - 1
2. Write each of the following pairs of simple statements into a compound
statement and illustrate the answer on a number line:
(a) x > 2 , x < 6 (b)x>-4, x<6 (c) x < 0.5, x > 0.125
(d) x < i x > | (e) x < 4, x > 6 (f) x > 2, x < - 3
3. Illustrate the following compound statements on the number line:
(a) - 1 < x < 4 (b) -2 < x < 0 (c) 3 < x < 7 (d) -5 < x < 5
 LINEAR INEQUALITIES 215

(e) -5 < x < 3 (0 -2 < x < 2 (g) -4 < x < - 1 (h) -9 < x < 15
(i)0<x<10 (j)4>x>l (k)^<x<i (l)2i<x<3i

(m) -0.75 < x < 0.75 (n) -15 < x < - 3 (p) -\ x < 5 \
16.2: Solution of Simple Inequalities

Example 2
Solve the inequality x - 1 > 2

Solution
Adding 1 to both sides gives;
x- 1+ 1>2+1
Therefore, x > 3
It can be seen that i f we substitute any number greater than 3 in the inequality,
the inequality remains true. In any given inequality you may:
(i) add the same number to both sides, or,
(ii) subtract the same number from both sides.

Example 3

Solve the inequality x + 3 < 8.

Solution
Subtracting 3 from both sides gives;
x+3-3<8-3
x <5
Example 4

Solve the inequality 2x + 3 < 5

Solution
Subtracting 3 from both sides gives;
2x+3-3<5-3
2x<2
Dividing both sides by 2 gives;
2x < 2
2 _ 2
Therefore, x < 1
We check our answer by substituting back in the inequality any number
less than or equal to 1
216 SECONDARY MATHEMATICS

Example 5

Solve the inequality | x - 2 > 4

Solution

Adding 2 to both sides;

|x-2+2>4+2
±x>6
Multiplying both sides by 3;
* x3>6x3
x > 18
Multiplication and Division by a Negative Number
Consider the simple statement 5 > 2.
Let us multiply both sides by - 3;
L.H.S. = - 15, R.H. S. = - 6. But - 6 is greater than - 15.
Therefore, the correct statement after multiplication is -15 < -6.
The sense of the inequality sign has been reversed.
Generally:
(i) multiplying or dividing both sides of an inequality by a positive number
leaves the inequality sign unchanged.
(ii) multiplying or dividing both sides of an inequality by a negative number
reverses the sense of the inequality sign.

Example 6

Solve the inequality 1 - 3x < 4

Solution
Subtracting 1 from both sides gives;
1 - 3x - 1 < 4 - 1
-3x<3
Dividing both sides by -3 gives;
-3 -3
(Note that the sign is reversed)
Therefore, x > - 1
It is advisable to check your answer by substituting back in the original inequality.
 LINEAR INEQUALITIES 217

Exercise 16.3
Solve each of the following inequalities and represent your solutions on a number
line.
1. (a) 2x + 4 > 10 (b) 3 x - 5 < 2
2. (a) 5x + 3 > 4 (b) 3 x - 4 < - 1 3
3. (a) 3 x - 7 > 5 (b) l - 4 x > 9
4. (a) 6 - ^ x > 12 (b) 3 - 2x < 17

5. (a) I-2x<-8i (b) 3 ( l - x ) + 4(x + 3 ) > 3 0

6. (a) 2x + 3 < - 1 (b) -3x-4>2

7. (a) - 4 - | x < 0 (b) JLz^<-I

-49 7

16.3: Simultaneous Inequalities

Example 7
Solve the following pair of simultaneous inequalities:
3x- 1
2x + 1 < 7

Solution
Solving the first inequality;
3x - 1 > - 4
3x > - 3
x>-l
Solving the second inequality;
2x + 1 < 7
2x<6
x<3
The solution which satisfies both inequalities is - 1 < x < 3. This is shown
on the number line in figure 16.6.

1 1 » 1 1 1 » 1 I — * -
- 4 - 3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5

Fig. 16.6

Simultaneous inequalities can as well be written as a compound statement.

For instance, x - 4 < 4x < 4 should be interpreted as;
(i) x - 4 < 4x
(ii) 4x < 4
 218 SECONDARY MATHEMATICS

Solving the first inequality,

x < 4x + 4
-3x<4
x>-j
Solving the second inequality;
4x < 4

x< 1
The solution which satisfies both inequalities is, therefore;
-4<x< 1

Exercise 16.4
Solve each of the following simultaneous inequalities and illustrate your
answers on a number line:
1. (a) x + 3>5 (b) x+10>6

x-4<4 x-2<3

2. (a) - 4 x - 2 < l (b) -5x + 7 < 1 2

-3x - 9 > - 6 i x + 2<5

3. (a) -7x - 1 < 6 (b) 3x - \ 4

f + 1< 4 x - i < | x + l

4. (a) | + i < 1 (b) 5<3x+2

x- | > Ax 3x - 14 < -2

5 (a) f + | >2 (b) > ,

-ix+l<2. 3x+l<-17

6. (a) • 2 L y^<5 (b) 9-2x<3

J L y^<4 l<16-x

7. (a) i - | x < x < 2 (b) 12-x>5<2x-2

8. (a) -4x<6<80x (b) 3x - 2 > - 4 < - 1 - 2x

9. (a) 6x-13 < 17<8x-7 (b) 2x + 3 > 5 x - 3 > - 8

E LINEAR INEQUALITIES 219

16.4: Graphical Representation of Inequalities

Figure 16.7 shows the graph of x = 2:

4--

x=2

1 --

0 2 3 4 5 6

Fig. 16.7

Give the co-ordinates of any four points:

(i) on the line x = 2.
(ii) to the right of the line x = 2.
(iii) to the left of the line x = 2.
jt You may have noticed that all points lying in the region to the right of x = 2
satisfy the inequality x > 2.
Write down an inequality for those points lying in the region to the left of x = 2.
Points which either lie on the line x = 2 or to the right of it are represented
by the inequality x > 2. Figure 16.8 shows the unshaded region satisfied by the
inequality x > 2.

Fig. 16.8
 220 SECONDARY MATHEMATICS

Sote:
(i) Always shade the region which does not satisfy the inequality (unwanted
region).
(ii) The line x = 2 has been drawn continuous (unbroken) because it forms
part of the region (all points on the line satisfy the inequality x > 2).
The region x > 2 is shown in figure 16.9..

Fig. 16.9

Note:
In this case,, the line x = 2 is broken. This is because points on the line do not
form part of the region (they do not satisfy the inequality x > 2).

Exercise 16.5
Show the regions that satisfy each of the following inequalities on a squared
paper:
1. (a) x < 4 (b) x > - 2
2. (a) X < - 1 (b) y < 3
3. (a) y > - 4 (b) y < 0
4. (a) y + 2 < - 5 (b) x + 2 > - l
5. (a) 3 - x > 7 X + 1 . r
(b) 3 < 6

6. (a) y -1 >5 (b)

4
"7. (a) -2 < x < 4 (b) - 4 < y <3

8. (a) -2 < i x <7 (b) 4<y<6

2
 LINEAR INEQUALITIES 221

9. (a) -l<3x-l<5 (b) A=2. > A±5

4 > 2
(b) |x-7+ix>-l

(b) x -4x>x(x-l)-18
2

(b) x - 2 > 4 + 3x

16.5: Linear Inequalities in Two Unknowns

In the previous section, we drew regions representing inequalities of the form
x > d or x < e, where d and e are constants. In this section, we will show how to
represent inequalities of the form ax + by > c graphically (where a, b and c are
constants).
For example, the region represented by x + y > 8 is shown in figure 16.10. The
boundary is the line x + y = 8.

Fig. 16.10

If we pick any point above the line, e.g.,(10,10),thenx + y = 10+ 10 = 20. Since
20 > 8, the point (10, 10) lies in the wanted region. On the other hand, i f we
pick a point below the line, such as (2, 3), we have;
x + y = 2 + 3 = 5. Since 5 < 8, this point does not satisfy the inequality. The
region below the line therefore does not satisfy the inequality and that is why it
is shaded. Show on the graph the region x + y < 8.
Given a region satisfied by an inequality, the inequality can be found. For
example, consider the region below:
 SECONDARY MATHEMATICS

1 \X 2~
p

-i 0 1
1

Fig. 16.11

The equation of the line is y = 2x + 4.

Consider a point in the wanted region such as the origin (0, 0). The x
co-ordinate and y co-ordinate are both zero. Substituting these values in the
equation y = 2x + 4, we get zero on the left hand side and four on the right.
Since 0 < 4 and the line y = 2x + 4 is continuous, the required inequality is
y < 2 x + 4.

Exercise 16.6
Graph each of the following inequalities:

1. (a) 2x + y > 3 (b) x- y<4

2. (a) 3x + 2y > 12 (b) 3y + x < -5

3. (a) y + 4x < 3 (b) y-Ix >1

4. (a) 2x > y + 4 (b)

5. (a) 2y - 3x - 5 < 0 Co) I x + I y < - 1

6. (a) 2y-5x>7 (b) -U-y > 1

7. (a) (b) 3y - 8 > - 6x

3(W*)*-1
8. (a) 1<x+y<8 (b) 2y > 0.75 - x

9. 0.5x + 0.3y > - 1

LINEAR INEQUALITIES
223
224 SECONDARY MATHEMATICS

16.6: Intersecting Regions

So far we have been able to identify regions which satisfy only one inequality.
Situations sometimes arise in which we are required to identify regions which
satisfy more than one inequality simultaneously. Consider the following
examples.

Example 8
Draw a region which satisfies both the inequalities x + y < 8 and x > 2.
Solution
The solution is shown in figure 16.13. The required region is unshaded.

Fig. 16.13
 LINEAR INEQUALITIES 225
Example 9

Show the region represented by 2x + y > 3, x - y > 4 and y < 3.

Solution
The solution is shown in figure 16.14.

Fig. 16.14

Note that the required region (R) is unshaded.

Exercise 16.6
In each of the questions 1-5, draw the regions which satisfy all the inequalities.

1. (a) x + y>0 (b) 2x + y > 6

x<2 x<3
y >0 y<6
2. (a) 4x - 3y < 12 (b) 4x-3y<12
x >0 y >0
y >0 y <6
226 SECONDARY MATHEMATICS

3. (a) y + 2x<5 (b) y-x<0

y<4x+12 x<5
y >0
4. (a) 2x + y > 4 (b) x+ y<6
6y + 2 y < 1 2 y>4
x + 3>0
5. (a) 5x + 3 y > 1 5 (b) 0<y<3
6y + 5x < 30 0<x<4
y >0
6. Find the areas of the required regions in questions 5 (a) and (b).

7. Write down the co-ordinates of any four points with integral values which
lie in the region obtained in question 4 (a).

8. The vertices of the unshaded triangular region in figure 16.15 are 0(0,0),
A(8,0) and B(8. 8). Write down the inequalities which are satisfied by the
region.

Fig. 16.15

9. Figure 16.16 shows a square ABCD with vertices A(5, 0), B(0, 5)
C(-5, 0) and D.
 LINEAR INEQUALITIES 227

Fig. 16.16

(a) Determine the co-ordinates of point D.

(b) Write down the equations of lines AB, CB, CD and AD.
(c) Write down the inequalities which determine the square.
10. Figure 16.17 shows the vertices of a region bounded by lines AB, BC, CD
and DA.

y•
14-

12- *D(7, 12)

10-

8-

6-

4-
* 2-
A
0 ^™ i i i i i i
2 4 6 8 10 12
Fig. 16.17

Write down the inequalities that determine the region ABCD.

11. Given the inequalities y - 2x < 4 and x + y < 1. find two other inequalities
which, together with these two, will complete a parallelogram with (-2,
0) and (1, 0) as two of its vertices.