An inequality is a mathematical sentence that contains inequality symbols such as , , , .

between
numerical or variable expressions. Four types of simple inequalities and their graphs are shown below.

Verbal Expressions Inequality Graph

All real numbers less than 4. x 4

4 2 0 2 4
All real numbers greater than 3 . x 3
4 2 0 2 4
All real numbers less than or equal to 2 .
All real numbers at most 2. x 2
All real numbers no greater than 2. 4 2 0 2 4

All real numbers greater than or equal to 1 .

All real numbers at least 1 . x 1
All real numbers no less than 1 . 4 2 0 2 4

Notice on the graphs that we use an open dot for or and a solid dot for or .

Properties of Inequalities
For all real numbers a , b , and c , the following are true.
If a b and b c , then a c.
If a b , then a b a c and a c b c.
a b
If a b and c is positive, then ac bc and .
c c
a b
If a b and c is negative, then ac bc and .
c c

Example 1 Write each statement as an inequality.

a. The number x is no greater than 2 .
b. The amount of calories n meet or exceed 1,200.

Solution a. x 2
b. n 1, 200

Example 2 Solve 4n 9 12 3n .

Solution 4n 9 12 3n
4n 9 3n 12 3n 3n Add 3n to each side.
7n 9 12 Simplify.
7n 9 9 12 9 Add 9 to each side.
7n 21 Simplify.
7n 21
Divide each side by 7.
7 7
n 3 Simplify.
 Exercises - Translating Words into Inequalities

1 4
If 3 n 25 , which inequality represents the Nine is not more than the sum of a number and 17.
possible range of values for 4n 12 ?
Which of the following inequalities represents
the statement above?
A) 4n 12 100
B) 4n 12 100 A) 9 17n
C) 4n 12 100 B) 9 n 17
D) 4n 12 100 C) 9 17n
D) 9 n 17

2 5
Which of the following numbers is NOT a solution The product of 7 and number n is no less
1 1 7 5 than 91.
to the inequality x x?
2 3 9 2
Which of the following inequalities represents
the statement above?
7
A)
2 A) 7n 91
5 B) 7n 91
B)
2
C) 7n 91
3
C) D) 7 n 91
2
1
D)
2

6 4 2 0 2
3
Which of the following inequalities represents
If 3a 7 5a 17 , what is the greatest possible the graph above?
value of 3a 7 ?
A) n 5
A) 16
B) n 5
B) 14
C) n 5
C) 12
D) n 5
D) 10
Two or more inequalities that are connected by the words and or or are called a compound inequality.
A compound inequality containing and is true only if both inequalities are true. Its graph is the intersection
of the graphs of the two inequalities. A compound inequality containing or is true if one or more of the
inequalities is true. Its graph is the union of the graphs of the two inequalities.

Since the absolute value of any number x is its distance from zero on a number line, x 1 means that the
distance from zero to x is less than 1 unit and x 1 means that the distance from zero to x is greater than 1
unit. Therefore the inequality x 1 is equivalent to 1 x 1 and x 1 is equivalent to x 1 or x 1 .

Graph of x 1 Graph of x 1

1 0 1 1 0 1
The distance between x and 0 is less than1. The distance between x and 0 is greater than1.

To translate more general absolute value inequalities into compound inequalities, use the following properties.
1. The inequality ax b c is equivalent to c ax b c , in which 0 c.
2. The inequality ax b c is equivalent to ax b c or ax b c , in which 0 c.
In the statements above, could be replaced by and could be replaced by .

Example 1 Solve 7 2 x 15 and 10 3x 11

Solution 7 2 x 15 and 10 3x 11
7 2 x 7 15 7 and 10 3x 10 11 10
2x 8 and 3x 21
2x 8 3x 21
and
2 2 3 3
x 4 and x 7

Example 2 Solve each inequality.

a. 2 x 3 7 b. n 4 3

Solution a. 2 x 3 7
7 2x 3 7 ax b c is equivalent to c ax b c.
7 3 2x 3 3 7 3 Add 3 to each expression.
4 2 x 10 Simplify.
4 2 x 10
Divide each expression by 2 .
2 2 2
2 x 5 Simplify.

b. n 4 3
n 4 3 or n 4 3 ax b c is equivalent to ax b c or
ax b c .
n 4 4 3 4 or n 4 3 4 Add 4 to each side.
n 1 or n 7 Simplify.
 Exercises - Compound and Absolute Value Inequalities

1 5
Which of the following numbers is NOT a solution Which of the following numbers is NOT a solution
to the inequality 3 n 2 or 2n 3 1? 1
to the inequality x 1 1 ?
2
A) 6
A) 0
B) 2
B) 2
C) 2
C) 4
D) 6
D) 6

Which of the following numbers is a solution to 6

the inequality 5w 7 2 and 6 w 15 3( 1 w) ?

5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5
A) 1
B) 2 Which of the following is the compound inequality
for the graph above?
C) 5
D) 8 A) x 2 or 4 x
B) x 2 or 4 x

3 C) 2 x 4

Which of the following is the graph of D) 2 x 4

1
x 5 and 7 x x 1?
2

7
A)
5 1
If x 1 x 5 , what is the greatest possible
4
B) value of x ?
4

C)
5 4

D)
5 4
8

3
4 If n 2 1 and n is an integer, what is one
4
1 possible value of n ?
If 2 n 1 , what is the value of 7 n
2
rounded to the nearest whole number?
A linear inequality in x and y is an inequality that can be written in one of the following forms.
ax by c , ax by c , ax by c , ax by c
An ordered pair (a, b) is a solution to a linear inequality in x and y if the inequality is true when a and b
are substituted for x and y , respectively.

Sketching the Graph of a Linear Inequality

1. Sketch the graph of the corresponding linear equation. Use a dashed line for inequalities with or
and a solid line for inequalities with or . This line divides the coordinate plane into two half planes.
2. Test a point in one of the half planes to find whether it is a solution of the inequality.
3. If the test point is a solution, shade its half plane. If not, shade the other half plane.

Example 1 Graph each inequality.

a. 2 y x 4 b. 3 x 2 y 2

Solution a. The corresponding equation is 2 y x 4.

Write the equation in slope-intercept form.
1
y x 2 Slope-intercept form of the corresponding equation.
2
1 y
Graph the line that has a slope of and
2
a y - intercept of 2. The boundary should 1
y x 2
be drawn as a solid line. 2
Select a point in one of the half planes and
test it. Let’s use (0, 0) . x
O (0,0)
2y x 4 Original inequality
2(0) 0 4 x 0, y 0
0 4 True
Since the statement is true, shade the half plane
containing the origin.

b. The corresponding equation is 3x 2 y 2 .

Write the equation in slope-intercept form.
3
y x 1 Slope-intercept form of the corresponding equation.
2
3 y
Graph the line that has a slope of and
2
a y - intercept of 1 . The boundary should 3
y x 1
be drawn as a dashed line. 2
Select a point in one of the half planes and (0,0)
test it. Let’s use (0, 0) . x
O
3x 2 y 2 Original inequality
3(0) 2(0) 2 x 0, y 0
0 2 False
Since the statement is false, shade the other
half plane not containing the origin.
 Exercises - Graphing Inequalities in Two Variables

1 3

y y

1 ( 1,0)
x x
O 1 O
(0, 1)

Which of the following inequalities represents the Which of the following inequalities represents the
graph above? graph above?

A) x 2 A) x y 1
B) x 2 B) x y 1
C) y 2 C) x y 1
D) y 2 D) x y 1

2 4

y y

(0, 2) (1, 2)

( 3,0)
x x
O O

Which of the following inequalities represents the

Which of the following inequalities represents the graph above?
graph above?
A) 2 x y 0
A) 2 y 3 x 6
B) 2 x y 0
B) 2 y 3 x 6
C) x 2 y 0
C) 3 y 2 x 6
D) x 2 y 0
D) 3 y 2 x 6
A system of inequalities is a set of two or more inequalities with the same variables. The ordered pairs
that satisfy all inequalities is a solution to the system. The solution set is represented by the intersection,
or overlap, of the graphs.

Example 1 Solve each system of inequalities by graphing.

a. x 2 b. y 3x 1
y 3 y 2x
y x 1

Solution a. The corresponding equations are

y
x 2 , y 3 , and y x 1 .
y 3
Use a dashed line for inequalities with or
and a solid line for inequalities with or .
x 2
Select (0, 0) as a test point for each inequality.
x
0 2 True (0,0)
0 3 True
0 0 1 True y x 1
The graph of the first inequality is the half
plane right of the vertical line. The graph of
the second inequality is the half plane on and
below the horizontal line. The graph of the third inequality is the half plane above
the line y x 1 . The graph of the system is the shaded region shown above.

b. The corresponding equations are y

y 3 x 1 and y 2x .
Use a dashed line for inequalities with or
and a solid line for inequalities with or .
Select (0, 0) as a test point for the inequality y 2x
x
y 3x 1 . O
0 3(0) 1 False y 3x 1
The point (0, 0) is not part of the solution.
Shade the half plane on or below the line
y 3x 1 .
We cannot select (0, 0) as a test point for the
inequality y 2 x , because (0, 0) is on the boundary line. Let’s use (0,1) as
a test point.
y 2x .
1 2(0) True
The point (0,1) is part of the solution. Shade the half plane above the line y 2x .
The graph of the system is the shaded region shown above.
 Exercises - Graphing Systems of Inequalities

1 3

x 2y 2
y x 1
y x 2
y 2x

y
y

section B section Q

section R
section C section P
section A x
x O
O

section S
section D

A system of inequalities and a graph are shown

A system of inequalities and a graph are shown
above. Which section or sections of the graph
above. Which section or sections of the graph
could represent all of the solutions to the system?
could represent all of the solutions to the system?

A) Section P
A) Section A
B) Section Q
B) Section B
C) Section R
C) Section C
D) Section S
D) Section D

4
2 y

Which of the following ordered pairs ( x, y )

II I
is a solution to the system of inequalities
y x 4 and x y 5 ? x
O
III IV
A) (4, 2)

B) (0, 2)
If the system of inequalities 2 y 2 x and
C) (5,3)
x 4 y is graphed on the xy - plane above,
D) (0, 5) which quadrant contains no solutions to the
system?

A) Quadrant II
B) Quadrant III
C) Quadrant IV
D) There are solutions in all four quadrants.
1 4
The sum of 120k and 215 j does not exceed Which of the following inequalities is equivalent
2,500. to 0.6( k 7) 0.3k 1.8 0.9k ?

Which of the following inequalities represents

the statement above? A) k 10
B) k 10
A) 120k 215 j 2,500 C) k 10
B) 120k 215 j 2, 500 D) k 10

C) 120k 215 j 2,500

D) 120k 215 j 2,500 5

4m 3 2(m 1) or 7 m 23 15 9m

Which of the following numbers is a solution

2 to the compound inequality above?
One half of a number decreased by 3 is
at most 5 . A) 2
B) 3
Which of the following inequalities represents
C) 4
the statement above?
D) 5
1
A) n 3 5
2
6
1
B) 3 n 5 y
2
1
C) n 3 5
2 (0,3)
1
D) 3 n 5 x
2 ( 4,0) O

3
Which of the following numbers is NOT
3b 5 Which of the following inequalities represents the
a solution to the inequality b 8?
2 graph above?

A) 0 A) 4 y 3 x 12
B) 1 B) 4 y 3 x 12
C) 2 C) 3 y 4 x 12
D) 3
D) 3 y 4 x 12
7 9
2 y 3x 6 y ax 1
y 1 x y bx 1

y In the xy - plane, if (1,0) is a solution to the

section B system of inequalities above, which of the
following must be true?
section C section A
I. a 1
x II. a b 0
O
III. b 1
section D
A) I only
B) I and II only
A system of inequalities and a graph are shown
above. Which section or sections of the graph C) I and III only
could represent all of the solutions to the system? D) I, II, and III

A) Section A
B) Section B 10
C) Section C y 12 x 600
D) Section D y 6 x 330

In the xy - plane, if ( x, y ) lies in the solution set

of the system of inequalities above, what is the
8 minimum possible value of y ?

II I

x
O
11
III IV
If 6 3 2 x 9 , what is the greatest possible
value of x 1 ?
If the system of inequalities 3 x and 1 y
is graphed in the xy - plane above, which quadrant
contains no solutions to the system?

A) Quadrant II 12
B) Quadrant III
For what integer value of x is 4 x 2 17 and
C) Quadrant IV 3 x 5 24 ?
D) All four quadrants contain solutions.