Inequalities

• A variable number is any number, an unspecified

number, from a certain given set of real numbers and
it is usually symbolised by a letter such as x, y, z, t or s.
• A particular number for which the variable can stand
are called values of the variable, and the whole set of
possible values makes up the range of the variable.
• If a variable x can take, as its value, all real numbers
lying between the given numbers a and b, then its
range is called the interval (a, b). In other words, the
interval (a, b) is the set of all real numbers which lie
between a, and b. That is, (a, b) = { x : a  x  b }
 Inequalities
• An open interval, consists of all real numbers
between a and b (a number x is between a and b if
a < x and x < b) we write a < x< b. So, (a, b) is an open
interval.
• The closed interval from a to b consists of all the
points between a and b, including a and b.
a  x  b . ( that is a  x and x  b ).
We write
• We shall denote the close interval from a to b by
 a, b  {x : a  x  b}.
{x : a  x  b} and {x : a  x  b},
• The sets
are called half-open or half close intervals and we
denote them by (a, b] and [a, b), respectively.
 Inequalities
• Statements of the form a < b and c > b are called
inequalities.
• The solution set of an inequality in x, say, is the
set of all real numbers that, when substituted for
x, make the given inequality a true statement.
• The set of all real numbers we denote by .
•   (, ) {x :   x  }
• Where  is called infinity.
• To solve an inequality is to find its solution set. In
order to solve inequalities, we need rules; some
of these rules are stated below.
 Inequalities
• SOME PROPERTIES OF REAL NUMBERS
i. If a > b and b > c, then a > c
ii. If a > b and c , then a + c > b + c
iii. If a > b and c > d, then a + c > b + d
iv. If a > b and c > 0, then ac > bc
v. If a > b and c < 0, then ac < bc
vi. If a > b and c > d, then a-d > b-c
vii. If a > b and c , then a-c > b-c
viii. If a > b > 0 and c > d > 0, then ac > bd
ix. If a > b >0 and c > d > 0, then a  b . In particular,
d c
when a = b = 1, we have 1  1 if c > d > 0.
d c
 Inequalities
a b a b
X. If a  b  0 and c  d  0, then  . with  iff, a = b and c = d.
d c d c

Example: Solve for x, 3x –2 < 5.

Soln.
3x –2 < 5
3x < 7

7
x 
3
7 7
solution Set: (  , )    x  .
3 3
 Inequalities
• Note: The Intervals
(, b), (a, ),(, b], [a, )
are{x :  x  b},{x :a  x  }, {x :  x  b},
{ x   : a  x  b }.

• Solve for x, 3 .x  8
2x  6 
5
• Solution
3x  8
2x  6 
5
• 10x –30 < 3x + 8
• 10x –3x < 8 +30
• 7x < 38
• x < 38
7
• Solution set: (  , 387 )     x  387 .
 Absolute Numbers
• The modulus or absolute value of a real number x,
denoted by x , is the positive number that has the
same magnitude as x. For example 5  5 and  5  5 .
• Properties of Absolute Number
x x
 x  x , xy  x . y ,  .
i. y y

x  0
ii. , for all real numbers x. x  0if, and only if x = 0.
x x
iii. x > 0,
x   x.
x < 0,
x  a  ( x  a or x  a)
iv.
x  a means  a  x  a
v.
x  a means ( x  a or x  a)
vi.
 Absolute Numbers
vii. x  y  distance on the real number line from x to y
viii. x  b  a, means  a  x  b  a
ix. x  b  a means x  b  a or x  b   a
x. x  y  x  y , (Triangle inequality)

Give examples in class.

 Quadratic and Cubic Inequalities

• So far, we have looked at inequality problems that are linear;

we shall now look at inequality problems that are of degrees
2 and 3 (quadratic and cubic). But before we continue, let’s
look at more properties of real numbers.
Let a , b   . Then
• 1. ab > 0 iff
Either a > 0 and b > 0
Or a < 0 and b < 0.
•  2. ab < 0 if and only if
Either a > 0 and b < 0
Or a < 0 and b > 0
 Quadratic and Cubic
Inequalities
a
b
iff
 0, b  0

Either a > 0 and b > 0

Or a< 0 and b < 0.
• a   b iff a  b
2 2

• Example:
• Find the solution sets of the following
inequalities
(x-3)(x-5) > 0
 Quadratic and Cubic
Inequalities
• We have three approaches to solving a problem like
this. But, we are going to be looking at two
approaches, Analysis and the Sign Methods.
• Solution:
• (x-3)(x-5) > 0
• either x-3 > 0 and x-5 > 0
• or x-3 < 0 and x-5 < 0
• i.e either x > 3 and x > 5
• or x < 3 and x < 5
• i.e either x > 5
• or x < 3.
 Quadratic and Cubic Inequalities

• Hence, our solution set,{x   : either x  3 or x  5}

{x : x  3}{x : x  5}
(   , 3)  (5,  )

• Sign Method: