120 (2-56) Chapter 2 Linear Equations and Inequalities in One Variable

FIGURE FOR EXERCISE 83

84. Building a ski ramp. Write an inequality in the variable x

for the degree measure of the smallest angle of the triangle
shown in the figure, given that the degree measure of the
smallest angle is at most 30°. 180  x  (x  8)  30

x8
x ?

FIGURE FOR EXERCISE 84 FIGURE FOR EXERCISE 86

where N is the number of teeth on the chainring (by the

85. Maximum girth. United Parcel Service defines the girth of
pedal), n is the number of teeth on the cog (by the wheel),
a box as the sum of the length, twice the width, and twice
and w is the wheel diameter in inches (Cycling, Burkett and
the height. The maximum girth that UPS will ship is 130 in.
Darst). The following chart gives uses for the various gear
If a box has a length of 45 in. and a width of 30 in., then
ratios.
what inequality must be satisfied by the height?
45  2(30)  2h  130 Ratio Use
86. Batting average. At one point during the 1997 season, Jay r 90 hard pedaling on
Lopez of the Atlanta Braves had 93 hits in 317 times at bat level ground
for an average of 93317 or 0.293. If he gets x hits in the 70  r  90 moderate effort on
next 20 times at bat to get his average over 0.300, then what level ground
93  x 50  r  70 mild hill climbing
inequality must x satisfy?  0.300
317  20
35  r  50 long hill climbing
Solve. with load
87. Bicycle gear ratios. The gear ratio r for a bicycle is defined A bicycle with a 27-inch diameter wheel has 50 teeth on the
by the formula chainring and 17 teeth on the cog. Find the gear ratio and
Nw indicate what this gear ratio is good for.
r  ,
n 79, moderate effort on level ground

In this SOLVING INEQUALITIES AND

section
● Rules for Inequalities
● Solving Inequalities
● Applications of Inequalities
2.9
APPLICATIONS
To solve equations, we write a sequence of equivalent equations that ends in a very
simple equation whose solution is obvious. In this section you will learn that the
procedure for solving inequalities is the same. However, the rules for performing
operations on each side of an inequality are slightly different from the rules for
equations.

helpful hint
You can think of an inequality
like a seesaw that is out of
balance.
50 > 20
If the same weight is added to
or subtracted from each side, it
will remain in the same state
of imbalance.
study tip
Get in the habit of checking
your work and having confi-
dence in your answers. The
answers to the odd-numbered
exercises are in the back of this
book, but you should look in
the answer section only after
you have checked on your
own. You will not always have
an answer section available.
helpful hint
Changing the signs of num-
bers, changes their relative po-
sition on the number line. For
example, 3 lies to the left of 5
on the number line,but 3 lies
to the right of 5. So 3  5,
but 3 5. Since multiply-
ing and dividing by a negative
cause sign changes, these op-
erations reverse the inequality.
2.9 Solving Inequalities and Applications (2-57) 121
Rules for Inequalities
Equivalent inequalities are inequalities that have exactly the same solutions.
Inequalities such as x > 3 and x  2 5 are equivalent because any number that
is larger than 3 certainly satisfies x  2 5 and any number that satisfies x  2 5
must certainly be larger than 3.
We can get equivalent inequalities by performing operations on each side of an
inequality just as we do for solving equations. If we start with the inequality
6  10 and add 2 to each side, we get the true statement 8  12. Examine the re-
sults of performing the same operation on each side of 6  10.
Perform these operations on each side:
Add 2 Subtract 2 Multiply by 2 Divide by 2
Start with 6  10 8  12 48 12  20 35
All of the resulting inequalities are correct. Now if we repeat these operations using
2, we get the following results.
Perform these operations on each side:
Add 2 Subtract 2 Multiply by 2 Divide by 2
Start with 6  10 48 8  12 12 20 3 5
Notice that the direction of the inequality symbol is the same for all of the results
except the last two. When we multiplied each side by 2 and when we divided each
side by 2, we had to reverse the inequality symbol to get a correct result. These
tables illustrate the rules for solving inequalities.
Addition Property of Inequality
If we add the same number to each side of an inequality we get an equivalent
inequality. If a  b, then a  c  b  c.
The addition property of inequality also allows us to subtract the same number from
each side of an inequality because subtraction is defined in terms of addition.
Multiplication Property of Inequality
If we multiply each side of an inequality by the same positive number, we get
an equivalent inequality. If a  b and c 0, then ac  bc. If we multiply
each side of an inequality by the same negative number and reverse the in-
equality symbol, we get an equivalent inequality. If a  b and c  0, then
ac bc.
The multiplication property of inequality also allows us to divide each side of an in-
equality by a nonzero number because division is defined in terms of multiplication.
So if we multiply or divide each side by a negative number, the inequality symbol
is reversed.
122 (2-58) Chapter 2 Linear Equations and Inequalities in One Variable

E X A M P L E 1 Writing equivalent inequalities

Write the appropriate inequality symbol in the blank so that the two inequalities are
equivalent.
a) x  3 9, x _____ 6
b) 2x  6, x _____ 3
Solution
a) If we subtract 3 from each side of x  3 9, we get the equivalent inequal-
ity x 6.
b) If we divide each side of 2x  6 by 2, we get the equivalent inequality
x
3. ■

CAUTION We use the properties of inequality just as we use the proper-

ties of equality. However, when we multiply or divide each side by a negative
number, we must reverse the inequality symbol.

Solving Inequalities
To solve inequalities, we use the properties of inequality to isolate x on one side.

E X A M P L E 2 Using the properties of inequality

Solve and graph the inequality 4x  5 19.
Solution
4x  5 19 Original inequality
4x  5  5 19  5 Add 5 to each side.
4x 24 Simplify.
x 6 Divide each side by 4.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Since the last inequality is equivalent to the first, they have the same solutions and
FIGURE 2.13 the same graph, which is shown in Fig. 2.13. ■

In the next example we divide each side of an inequality by a negative number.

calculator close-up
You can use the TABLE feature of a graph- Next, use TBLSET to set the table so that the Notice that when x is larger than 6, y1
ing calculator to numerically support the values of x start at 4.5 and the change in x (or 4x  5) is larger than 19. Note that this
solution to the inequality 4x  5 19 in is 0.5. table is not a method for solving an in-
Example 2. Use the Y = key to enter the equality, it is merely a way of verifying or
equation y1  4x  5. supporting the algebraic solution.

Finally, press TABLE to see lists of x-values

and the corresponding y-values.
 2.9 Solving Inequalities and Applications (2-59) 123

E X A M P L E 3 Reversing the inequality symbol

Solve and graph the inequality 5  5x  1  2(5  x ).
Solution
5  5x  1  2(5  x) Original inequality
5  5x  11  2x Simplify the right side.
5  3x  11 Add 2x to each side.
3x  6 Subtract 5 from each side.
x
2 Divide each side by 3, and reverse the inequality.
–6 –5 –4 –3 – 2 – 1 0 1 The inequalities 5  5x  1  2(5  x) and x
2 have the same graph, which
FIGURE 2.14 is shown in Fig. 2.14. ■
We can use the rules for solving inequalities on the compound inequalities that
we studied in Section 2.8.

E X A M P L E 4 Solving a compound inequality

Solve and graph the inequality 9  2x  7  5.
3
Solution
2x
9    7  5 Original inequality
3
2x
9  7    7  7  5  7 Add 7 to each part.
3
2x
2    12 Simplify.
3
3 3 2x 3 3
(2)        12 Multiply each part by .
2
2 2 3 2
3  x  18 Simplify.
–3 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 Any number that satisfies 3  x  18 also satisfies the original inequality.
FIGURE 2.15 Figure 2.15 shows all of the solutions to the original inequality. ■
CAUTION There are many negative numbers in Example 4, but the
inequality was not reversed, since we did not multiply or divide by a negative num-
ber. An inequality is reversed only if you multiply or divide by a negative number.

E X A M P L E 5 Reversing inequality symbols in a compound inequality

Solve and graph the inequality 3  5  x  5.
Solution
3  5  x  5 Original inequality
3  5  5  x  5  5  5 Subtract 5 from each part.
8  x  0 Simplify.
(1)(8)
(1)(x )
(1)(0) Multiply each part by 1, reversing
8
x
0 the inequality symbols.
124 (2-60) Chapter 2 Linear Equations and Inequalities in One Variable

It is customary to write 8  x  0 with the smallest number on the left:

–1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0x8
FIGURE 2.16 Figure 2.16 shows all numbers that satisfy 3  5  x  5. ■

Applications of Inequalities
The following example shows how inequalities can be used in applications.

E X A M P L E 6 Averaging test scores

Mei Lin made a 76 on the midterm exam in history. To get a B, the average of her
midterm and her final exam must be between 80 and 90. For what range of scores
on the final exam will she get a B?
Solution
 76
Let x represent the final exam score. Her average is then x . The inequality
helpful hint 2
expresses the fact that the average must be between 80 and 90:
Remember that all inequality
symbols in a compound in- x  76
equality must point in the 80    90
2
same direction. We usually
x  76
have them all point to the left
so that the numbers are in-
creasing in size as you go from

2(80)  2   2(90)
2  Multiply each part by 2.

left to right in the inequality. 160  x  76  180 Simplify.

160  76  x  76  76  180  76 Subtract 76 from each part.

84  x  104 Simplify.

The last inequality indicates that Mei Lin’s final exam score must be between 84
and 104. ■

WARM-UPS
True or false? Explain your answer.
1. The inequality 2x  18 is equivalent to x  9. True
2. The inequality x  5  0 is equivalent to x  5. False
3. We can divide each side of an inequality by any real number. False
4. The inequality 2x  6 is equivalent to x  3. True
5. The statement “x is at most 7” is written as x  7. False
6. “The sum of x and 0.05x is at least 76” is written as x  0.05x  76. True
7. The statement “x is not more than 85” is written as x  85. False
8. The inequality 3  x  9 is equivalent to 9  x  3. True
9. If x is the sale price of Glen’s truck, the sales tax rate is 8%, and the title fee
is $50, then the total that he pays is 1.08x  50 dollars. True
10. If the selling price of the house, x, less the sales commission of 6% must be
at least $60,000, then x  0.06x  60,000. False
 2.9 Solving Inequalities and Applications (2-61) 125

2. 9 EXERCISES
Reading and Writing After reading this section, write out the 19. 8  2b b4
answers to these questions. Use complete sentences.
1. What are equivalent inequalities? 20. 35  7b b5
Equivalent inequalities are inequalities that have the same
solutions.
21. 4z  8 z  2
2. What is the addition property of inequality?
The addition property of inequality says that adding any
real number to each side of an inequality produces an 22. 5y  20 y4
equivalent inequality.
3. What is the multiplication property of inequality? 23. 3y  2  7 y3
According to the multiplication property of inequality, the
inequality symbol is reversed when multiplying (or divid- 24. 2y  5  9 y  2
ing) by a negative number and not reversed when multiply-
ing (or dividing) by a positive number.
25. 3  7z  17 z  2
4. What similarities are there between solving equations and
solving inequalities?
For equations or inequalities we try to isolate the variable. 26. 5  3z  20 z  5
The properties of equality and inequality are similar.
5. How do we solve compound inequalities? 27. 6  r  3 r  3
We solve compound inequalities using the properties of in-
equality as we do for simple inequalities. 28. 6  12  r r6
6. How do you know when to reverse the direction of an in-
equality symbol?
29. 5  4p  8  3p
The direction of the inequality symbol is reversed when we
p  13
multiply or divide by a negative number.
30. 7  9p  11  8p
Write the appropriate inequality symbol in the blank so that the
p  4
two inequalities are equivalent. See Example 1.
5
7. x  7  0 8. x  6  0 31.  q  20 q  24
6
x ___ 7 x ___ 6
x  7 x6 2
32.  q  4 q6
9. 9  3w 10. 10  5z 3
w ___ 3 z ___ 2
w3 z2 1
33. 1   t  2 t  12
4
11. 4k  4 12. 9t  27
k ___ 1 t ___3 1
k1 t  3 34. 2   t  0 t6
3
1 1
13.  y  4 14. x  4
2 3 35. 2x  5  x  6 x  11
y ___ 8 x ___ 12
y  8 x  12 36. 3x  4  2x  9 x  13
Solve and graph each of the following inequalities. See Exam-
ples 2 and 3. 37. x  4  2(x  3) x  10
15. x  3  0 x  3
38. 2x  3  3(x  5) x  18
16. x  9  8 x  17
39. 0.52x  35  0.45x  8 x  614.3
17. 3  w  1 w  2
40. 8455(x  3.4)  4320
18. 9  w  12 w  21
x  3.91
126 (2-62) Chapter 2 Linear Equations and Inequalities in One Variable

   
Solve and graph each compound inequality. See Examples 1 2 2 3 6
4 and 5. 58.  z      z  
2 5 3 4 5
41. 5  x  3  7 8  x  10 z1

1 1 1 7
42. 2  x  5  6 7  x  11 59.   x    
3 4 6 12
2x3
9
43. 3  2v  1  10 1  v   3 1 2 1
2 60.      w  
5 5 15 3
4w6
44. 3  3v  4  7
Solve each of the following problems by using an inequality. See
7
  v  1 Example 6.
3
61. Boat storage. The length of a rectangular boat storage
45. 4  5  k  7 2  k  9 shed must be 4 meters more than the width, and the perime-
ter must be at least 120 meters. What is the range of values
for the width? At least 28 meters
46. 2  3  k  8 5  k  1 62. Fencing a garden. Elka is planning a rectangular garden
that is to be twice as long as it is wide. If she can afford to
buy at most 180 feet of fencing, then what are the possible
47. 2  7  3y  22
values for the width? At most 30 feet
5  y  3
48. 1  1  2y  3
1  y  1
2u
49. 5    3  17
3
12  u  30
3u
50. 4    1  11
4
4  u  16
3m  1
51. 7    8
2
5  m  5
3  2m
52. 0    9
2 15 3
  x  
2 2 FIGURE FOR EXERCISE 62
53. 0.02  0.54  0.0048x  0.05
102.1  x  108.3 63. Car shopping. Harold Ivan is shopping for a new car. In
addition to the price of the car, there is a 5% sales tax and a
34.55  22.3x $144 title and license fee. If Harold Ivan decides that he
54. 0.44    0.76
124.5 will spend less than $9970 total, then what is the price
2.69  x  0.91 range for the car? Less than $9358
64. Car selling. Ronald wants to sell his car through a broker
Solve and graph each inequality.
who charges a commission of 10% of the selling price.
1 1 Ronald still owes $11,025 on the car. Ronald must get
55.  x  1  4   x x6
2 3 enough to at least pay off the loan. What is the range of the
y 5 y 1 selling price? At least $12,250
56.        y  8 65. Microwave oven. Sherie is going to buy a microwave in a
4 12 3 4
city with an 8% sales tax. She has at most $594 to spend. In
1
 1
 
1 1
57.  x     6x  
2 4 4 2  what price range should she look? At most $550
66. Dining out. At Burger Brothers the price of a hamburger is
x0 twice the price of an order of French fries, and the price of
 2.9 Solving Inequalities and Applications (2-63) 127

a Coke is $0.25 more than the price of the fries. Burger North
Brothers advertises that you can get a complete meal
(burger, fries, and Coke) for under $2.00. What is the price
range of an order of fries? 85 Lighthouse
Less than 44 cents B ?
67. Averaging test scores. Tilak made 44 and 72 on the first
two tests in algebra and has one test remaining. For Tilak to x
pass the course, the average on the three tests must be at A
least 60. For what range of scores on his last test will Tilak
pass the course?
At least 64 FIGURE FOR EXERCISE 73
68. Averaging income. Helen earned $400 in January, $450 in
February, and $380 in March. To pay all of her bills, she must
average at least $430 per month. For what income in April
would her average for the four months be at least $430? B 110
At least $490
69. Going for a C. Professor Williams gives only a midterm
x
exam and a final exam. The semester average is computed
1 2
by taking 3 of the midterm exam score plus 3 of the final ?
exam score. To get a C, Stacy must have a semester average A
between 70 and 79 inclusive. If Stacy scored only 48 on the C
midterm, then for what range of scores on the final exam
will Stacy get a C? FIGURE FOR EXERCISE 74
Between 81 and 94.5 inclusive
70. Different weights. Professor Williamson counts his 75. Bicycle gear ratios. The gear ratio r for a bicycle is defined
2 1 by the formula
midterm as 3 of the grade and his final as 3 of the grade. Nw
Wendy scored only 48 on the midterm. What range of r
,
n
scores on the final exam would put Wendy’s average be-
where N is the number of teeth on the chainring (by the
tween 70 and 79 inclusive? Compare to the previous
pedal), n is the number of teeth on the cog (by the wheel),
exercise.
and w is the wheel diameter in inches (Cycling, Burkett and
Between 114 and 141 inclusive
Darst).
71. Average driving speed. On Halley’s recent trip from Ban- a) If the wheel has a diameter of 27 in. and there are 12
gor to San Diego, she drove for 8 hours each day and trav- teeth on the cog, then for what number of teeth on the
eled between 396 and 453 miles each day. In what range chainring is the gear ratio between 60 and 80?
was her average speed for each day of the trip? Between 27 and 35 teeth inclusive
Between 49.5 and 56.625 miles per hour
b) If a bicycle has 48 teeth on the chainring and 17 teeth on
72. Driving time. On Halley’s trip back to Bangor, she drove
the cog, then for what diameter wheel is the gear ratio
at an average speed of 55 mph every day and traveled be-
between 65 and 70?
tween 330 and 495 miles per day. In what range was her
Between 23.02 in. and 24.79 in.
daily driving time?
Between 6 and 9 hours c) If a bicycle has a 26-in. diameter wheel and 40 teeth on
the chainring, then for what number of teeth on the cog
73. Sailboat navigation. As the sloop sailed north along the
is the gear ratio less than 75?
coast, the captain sighted the lighthouse at points A and B as
At least 14 teeth
shown in the figure. If the degree measure of the angle at
the lighthouse is less than 30°, then what are the possible 76. Virtual demand. The weekly demand (the number bought
values for x? by consumers) for the Acme Virtual Pet is given by the for-
Between 55° and 85° mula
d
9000  60p
74. Flight plan. A pilot started at point A and flew in the di-
rection shown in the diagram for some time. At point B she where p is the price each in dollars.
made a 110° turn to end up at point C, due east of where she a) What is the demand when the price is $30 each?
started. If the measure of angle C is less than 85°, then what 7200
are the possible values for x? b) In what price range will the demand be above 6000?
Between 0° and 65° Less than $50