Revision Notes

Class - 11 Mathematics
Chapter 6 - Linear Inequalities

● An inequality is a relationship that exists between two values that aren't equal.
● For example, x > 9 . Here there is a relation between x & 9 .
● Any two algebraic expressions or real numbers related by symbol ‘ < ’, ‘ > ’, ‘
 ’ or ‘  ’ form inequality.
● Inequalities can be used to solve problems in science, mathematics, statistics,
economics, optimization problems, psychology, and other fields.

Example of inequality in daily life:

Rina and Samira have Rs. 5,000 & wants to buy t-shirts and shoes for trekking.
The cost price of t-shirt and shoes is Rs. 250 and Rs. 550 respectively. We can
write the above statement mathematically using inequalities, as follows;
Let the number of t-shirt they can buy be x & number of shoes be y .
Then, the total amount spent by them is
250x + 550y  5000
Here, the total amount is upto Rs. 5,000 .
The above given statement consists of two statements as,
250x + 550y  5000 which is an inequality and
250x + 550y  5000 is an equation

Notations:
● The notation a < b means, a is less than b .
● The notation a > b means, a is greater than b .
● The notation a  b means, a is not equal to b .
● The notation a  b means, a is less than or equal to b .
● The notation a  b means, a is greater than or equal to b .

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Types of Inequalities:
● Numerical inequalities:
Relationship between numbers.
For example, 8 < 19
● Literal or variable inequalities:
Relationship between variables or between a variable and number.
Example, x < 19
● Double Inequalities:
Relationship from two side.
For example, 25 < x < 19
● Strict inequalities:
An inequality that employs symbols < or >
The symbols  and  are not used.
For example, y < 4 ; 1 < 4
● Slack inequalities.
An inequality that employs symbols  or  .
Example, y  7
● Linear inequalities in one variable:
A one-variable inequality involving a linear function.
Example, y < 4
● Linear inequalities in two variables:
An inequality involving a two-variable linear function.
Example, 5x+ 7y > 4
● Quadratic inequalities:
An inequality which employs a quadratic function.
Example, 7x 2  3x  4

Solution for linear inequality in one variable:

Solution & Solution Set:

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● Solution:
Values of x , which make inequality true statement.
Example - 5 is a solution for x  10
● Solution Set:
The set of values of x is known as its solution set.
Example - 1,2,3,4 is solution set for x  5 where x is natural Number.

Rules of Inequality:
● Both sides of an inequality can have equal numbers added to (or taken from)
them without changing the sign of the inequality.
For example, x  5 is same as x  2  5  2
● Both sides of an inequality can be multiplied (or divided) by the same positive
number without affecting the sign of inequality.
For example, x  y  3 is same as  x  y   2  3  2
● However, the sign of inequality is flipped or reversed when both sides are
multiplied or divided by a negative value.
For example, x  y  6 is same as  x  y    2   6   2 

Question:
Solve 30x  160 when
i. x is a natural number,
ii. x is an integer,
iii. x is real number
Ans: On dividing the inequality by 30 according to rule 2 , we get
30x 160
 or
30 30
16
x
3
Case 1 : If x is a natural number, then solution set is 1,2,3,4,5 .
Case 2 : If x is an integer, then solution set is .....  4, 3, 2, 1,0,1,2,3,4,5 .

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  16 
Case 3 : If x is a real number, then solution set is  ,  .
 3
By representing the case 3 solution on a number line, we get

Question:
Solve 7x  2  5x  8 . Show the graph of the solutions on number line.
Ans: By subtracting 2 from both side, we get 7x  5x  6
By subtracting 5x from both side, we get 2x  6
On dividing 2 both side, we get x  3
We can represent this in Number line below.

(Above Number line is drawn by using Paint)

Graphical Solution of Linear Inequalities in 2 variables:

● The Cartesian plane is divided into two equal sections by a line.
● Each component is referred to as a half plane.
● A non-vertical line divides the plane into lower and upper half planes, while a
vertical line divides it into left and right half planes.
● In the Cartesian plane, a point will either lie on a line or in one of the half
planes.
● The solution zone is the area that contains all of the solutions to an inequality.

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(All Graphs are drawn with the help of GeoGebra and Paint)
● To find the half plane represented by an inequality, simply choose any point
 a, b  (not online) and see if it meets the inequality.
● If it does, the inequality represents the half plane and shades the region that
contains the point; if it does not, the inequality represents the half plane that
does not contain the point.
● For convenience, the point  0,0  is preferred.
● Example: x + 2y  9
Ans:

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Steps for find solution region for a linear inequality in 2 variables
1. Substitute an equal sign for the inequality sign and plot the graph. Plot a graph
for x + 2y  9 .
Red line represent x + 2y  9 .
2. Take any point on the graph. Here we took  8,1 and check if satisfies the linear
inequality.
In this case x + 2y  9 .
If yes, then the region where this assumed point lies is the solution region.
3. When solving a Slack inequality   or   use solid line, since the points on
the line are part of the solution set.
4. Use dotted line in the case of Strict inequality   or <  , since points on the
line are not included in solution set.
In the case of several linear inequalities, the solution region is the area that is
shared by all of the inequalities.

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Question:
Solve the following system of inequalities graphically 5x + 4y  40 , x  2 and
y  3.
Ans:
Step 1 : Draw lines for 5x + 4y  40 , x  2 and y  3 .
Step 2 : For each of these linear inequalities, find the solution zone.
Step 3 : Locate a common area. The solution region is a common region.

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