Francesco Giannino » 2.Linear inequalities. Systems of linear inequalities

Linear Inequalities

A linear inequality in the variable x is a comparison of expressions by either “less than” (<), “less than or equal to” (≤ ), “greater than” (>), or “greater than or equal to” (≥) where each expression is of the form , with a and b real numbers.
To solve an inequality containing a variable, find all values of variable that make the inequality true.

Linear Inequalities

Properties of inequalities

4. Multiplication Property
i. If a < b and c is positive then c a < c b
ii. If a < b and c is negative c a > c b

Multiplying both sides of an inequality by a positive number produces an equivalent inequality.
Multiplying both sides of an inequality by a negative number reverses the direction of the inequality.

Note 1. If each inequality sign is reversed in the above properties, we obtain similar properties.
Note 2. If the inequality sign < is replaced by ≤ or the sign > is replaced by ≥ , we also obtain similar properties.

Linear Inequalities

A solution for an inequality in a variable x is a number such that when we substitute that number for x we have a true statement.
Typically an inequality has infinitely many solutions and the solution set is easily described using interval notation.

Linear Inequalities

Observation 1. Solving linear inequalities is very much like solving linear equations, with one important difference:
when you multiply or divide both sides of an inequality by a negative number, the direction of the inequality is reversed.
We can see this, using an inequality with no variables.
Example 2. The inequality 3 < 7 is TRUE.
Multiply both sides of the inequality by the negative number -2:

(3)(-2) < (7)(-2): this is FALSE, because -6 is to the right of -14 on the number line. Hence, -6 > -14.

(3)(-2) > (7)(-2): this is TRUE. So, when we multiply the original inequality by -2, we must reverse the direction to obtain another true statement.

Linear Inequalities

Observation 2. In general we can not multiply or divide both sides of an inequality by an expression with a variable, because some values of the variable could make the expression positive and some could make it negative.

Exercises

Exercise 3. Solve the inequality:

Solution. Multiply both sides by 5 (the LCD)

and simplify: 10 – 7 x > -5 x + 15.
Subtract 10 from both sides: – 7 x > -5 x + 5
Add 5x to both sides: -2 x > 5
Divide both sides by -2 and reverse inequality:

x < -5 / 2

In conclusion, the solution set to the above inequality consists of all real numbers in the interval (- ∞, -5/2).

Systems of linear inequalities in one variable

A system of inequalities in one variable x is a set of inequalities in the same variable x that must be simultaneously satisfied. In order to satisfy all inequalities, a solution must be in the solution sets of all inequalities.
The technique for solving the system is identical to that for an individual inequality, with one additional step at the end.

Exercises

Exercise 4. Solve the following system of inequalities:

Solution. Find all numbers x such that -3 < 5 – 2x and 5 – 2x < 9.
The numbers that satisfy both inequalities are the values in the intersection of the two solution sets. Then we solve both inequalities

Exercises

Exercise 5. Solve the following system of inequalities:

Solution. The numbers that satisfy both inequalities are the values in the intersection of the two solution sets. Then we solve both inequalities