LINEAR INEQUATIONS

WHAT IS AN INEQUALITY ?
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● What is an inequation?
An inequation which involves only one variable whose highest power one is known as a linear inequation in
that variable.Linear inequation looks exactly like a linear equation with inequality sign replacing the
equality sign.The statements of any of the forms ax + b > 0, ax + b ≥ 0, ax + b < 0, ax + b ≤ 0 are linear
inequations in variable x, where a, b are real numbers and a ≠ 0.

For example;

(i) 2x + 1 > 0,

(ii) 5x ≤ 0,

(iii) 5 - 4x < 0,

(iv) 9x ≥ 0

Thus, each of the above statement is linear inequation in variable x.

REPLACEMENT SET AND SOLUTION SET
1. The set from which the values of the variable x are chosen so as to satisfy a given inequation,
is called the replacement set.
2. Solution set is the subset of replacement set, consisting of all those values of the variable x,
which satisfy the given ineqation.
For example:

Let the given inequation be y < 6, if:

(i) The replacement set = N, the set of natural numbers; The solution set = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}.

(ii) The replacement set = W, the set of whole numbers; the Solution set = {0, 2, 3, 4, 5}.

(iii) The replacement set = Z or I, the set of integers; The solution set = {........., -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

But, if the replacement set is the set of real numbers, the solution set can only be described in set-buider form,
i.e., {x : x ∈ R and y < 6}.