Inequalities: Greater than or less than
In a nutshell
Inequalities show when one expression is greater than or less than another expression. Inequalities with more complex expressions can be solved in a similar way to equations. The answers can be represented algebraically or on a number line.
Symbols
Inequalities involve using symbols to describe the relationship between two expressions.
SYMBOL | DESCRIPTION |
---|
| less than |
| less than or equal to |
| greater than |
| greater than or equal to |
Note: The arrow points to the smaller number.
Number lines
x≤3 means that x is less than or equal to 3. It can be represented by the number line
use ∘ for >or<
use ∙ for ≥or≤
Solving inequalities
You can use knowledge of rearranging equations to solve the inequalities.
Basic Inequalities
Rearrange like equations to solve.
Example 1
3x+103x≤22≤12x≤4
Inequalities with negatives
If you multiply or divide by a negative number, reverse the inequality sign.
Example 2
−2x<10÷−2x>5
Inequalities in two parts
Like solving an equation, do the same to each of the 3 parts of the inequality.
Example 3
2124<4x−3<4x<41<44+3÷46<x<11
Complex Inequalities in two parts
Split the inequality up into two separate questions, solve each separately then recombine the answers.
Example 4
3x−19−8<5x−3<x3x−19<5x−3<4x+25x−3x<4x+2<5
−8<x<5