CHAPTER 7 : LINEAR INEQUALITIES

Identifying relationship ‘greater than ( > )’ and ‘less than ( < )’

i) Integer Number

SMALL BIG

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

DESCRIPTION INEQUALITIES EXAMPLES QUESTIONS

(Write ‘<’ or ‘>’)
y is greater than x big small big small -2 5
y > x 6 > -1 6 0
big small -5 -1
-1 > -6 -2 2
y is less than x small big small big 4 5
y < x -1 < 6 -3 -2
Small big -10 1
-6 < -1 7 -20

ii) Fraction Number

TYPE OF INEQUALITIES QUESTION 1 QUESTION 2

FRACTION (Write ‘<’ or ‘>’) (Write ‘<’ or ‘>’)
SAME
DENOMINATOR 7
> 5
> 3 3 2 1 8 5 2
9 9 9 5 5 5 9 9 9
2
11
3
- 11 5
- 11 - 53 0 1
5
1 2 3
5 < 5 < 5

DIFFERENT 1 1 1
2 3 4
DENOMINATOR 1 1 1 1 1
4 6 8 6 5
1
3
6 4 3
12 12 12
( same denominator)

6 4 3
12 > 12 > 12

1 1 1
2 > 3 > 4

Linear Inequalities 1
 5 4 1
6 5 2
1 2 3 2 3
2 5 10 12 8
25 24 4
30 30 6
15
30
( same denominator)

25
30 > 24
30 > 15
30

5 4 4
6 > 5 > 5

Representing a linear inequality on number line

INEQUALITY DESCRIPTION NUMBER LINE LIST OF INTEGER

x>0 x is greater than 0 o
1 , 2 , 3, 4, ………
0 1 2 3 4

x>5

x  0 x is greater or equal to 0 
0 , 1 , 2, 3 , 4 , ….
0 1 2 3 4

x  -3

x<8

x  5

Representing the simultaneous linear inequalities on number line

Number Line Inequality List Of Integers

x �2, x �-2
-2 �x, x �2 -2, -1, 0, 1, 2

-2 �x �2

Linear Inequalities 2
 Number Line Inequality List Of Integers

x < 2, x>-2
-2<x, x >2 -1, 0, 1
-2<x<2

x < 2, x  -2
- 2  x, x  2 -2, -1, 0, 1
-2 x  2

x  2, x  -2 -1, 0, 1, 2
- 2  x, x  2
-2 x  2

Linear Inequalities 3
 Number Line Inequality List Of Integers

Solving linear inequalities by adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing

INEQUALITIES METHOD NUMBER LINE LIST OF INTEGER

x-2>5
x-2+2>5+2 Add 2 from the both 7 , 8 , 9 , ……..
x>7 sides 7 8 9 10 11
x – 4  -1

x -10 < 16

x+2>5
x+2–2>5-2 Subtract 2 to the both 3 , 4 , 5 , …….
x>3 sides 3 4 5 6 7
x + 4  -1

x + 10  16
2x > 6
2x 6 Divide the both sides
> by 2 3 4 5 6 7
2 2
x>3
-3x < 15

5x  40
x
<2 Multiply both side
2
x with 2
(2)< 2(2)
2
x<4
x
9
3

Linear Inequalities 4
Solving using a combination of operation

INEQUALITIES METHOD NUMBER LINE LIST OF INTEGER

4x + 12 > 8 
4x + 12 – 12 > 8 – 12 Subtract 12 both sides
4x > -4 -1 0 1 2 3 -1, 0, 1…
4x - 4 Divide both side by 4
>
4 4
x > -1
3x + 8  11

5x - 3 < 17

x
-1<3
2
x
- 1+ 1 < 3 + 1 Add 1 both sides
2
x
<4
2
x
(2) < 4(2)
2 Multiply both side with 2
x<8

x
+ 5 < -3
2

x
-8  -7
5

Linear Inequalities 5
Solve each of the following pairs of simultaneous inequalities

INEQUALITIES METHOD NUMBER LINE LIST OF INTEGER

2x + 3< 9
2x + 3 -3 < 9 – 3  -2 , -1 , 0 , 1 , 2
2x < 6 
2x 6
<
2 2 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
x<3

x
- 4  -5
2
x
- 4 + 4  -5 + 4
2
x
 -1
2
x
(2)  -1(2)
2
x  -2
x
+5  7
2

3x – 5 > -8

3x
+ 2  11
4

2x – 3 > 7

3x + 5 > 20

2x – 11 7

Linear Inequalities 6
 INEQUALITIES METHOD NUMBER LINE LIST OF INTEGER
2x – 1 < 19 < 3x – 5

3x -2 �10 �5x

Questions based on examination format

1. List all the integers x that satisfy both the inequalities x  5 and 9 – 3x < 3.
A. 3 , 4 C. 3 , 4 , 5
B. 4 , 5 D. 2 , 3 , 4 , 5
m
2. The solution for - 2  m + 4 is
3
A. m  -9 C. m  -9
B. m  -9 D. m  9

3. Given that x – 3 < 6  2x – 8 , find the smallest integer that satisfy the inequalities.
A. 6 C. 8
B. 7 D. 9

4. Given that the solution for 3 – w < 8 and 3w – 2 < 1 is e < w < f . Find the value of e and f.
A e=5,f=1 C. e = -5 , f = 1
B. e = 5 , f = 3 D. e = -5 , f = 3

5. All integers that satisfy the inequalities 10 – 5x < 0 and x – 4  -5 is

A -2 , -1 , 0 , 1 , 2 C -1 , 0 , 1 , 2
B -2 , -1 , 0 , 1 D -1 , 0 , 1

6. The diagram below represents two simultaneous inequalities on a number line.



-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

7. Find inequality which represents the common value of both the inequalities is
A. - 2  x  0 C. - 2  x  0
B. - 2  x  0 D. - 2  x  0

8. If 3x - 5  10  2 x - 4 , then
A. - 5  x  7 C. 5  x  7
B. - 5  x  7 D. 5  x  7
Linear Inequalities 7
 2x
9. List all the integer values of x which satisfy both the inequalities 2 x - 1  15 and  8.
3
A. 8, 9, 10 C. 8, 9, 10, 11
B. 9, 10, 11 D. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

10. List all the integer value of x which satisfy both the inequalities x < 7 and 16 - 2 x  8 .
A. 4, 5 C. 5, 6, 7
B. 4, 5, 6 D. 4, 5, 6, 7
p
11. Find the solution for  3  p  7 .
2
A. p  -8 C. p  8
B. p  -8 D. p  8

12.
y

y=x+2

O 3
x + 2y = 3
In the diagram, one of the three inequalities which define the shaded region is
A. x < 3 C. x > 3
B. y < 3 D. y > 3

13. The solution for 2p ─ 1< 9 < 5p + 14 is

A. -1 < p < 3 C. 0 < p < 8
B. -1 < p < 5 D. -2 < p < 8

14. The diagram below represents two simultaneous inequalities on a number line.

-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2

The solution for these two linear inequalities which represents the common value of both the
inequalities is
A. x < 3 C. -4 > x ≥ -7
B. x ≥ -7 D. -7 ≤ x < -3

15. List all the integers t that satisfy the inequalities 2t + 3  2 and 4t > 5t – 4.
A. -1, 0, 1, 2 C. 0, 1, 2, 3, 4
B. 0, 1, 2, 3 D. -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4

16. List all the integers m that satisfy the inequalities 4 + 3m ≤ 10 and 5m + 6 > 0.
A. -1, 0, 1 C. -2, -1, 0, 1
B. -1, 0, 1, 2 D. -2, -1, 0, 1, 2

17. List all the integers n that satisfy the following.

3n < 40 and 2(7 – n) ≤ -5
Linear Inequalities 8
 A. 9, 10, 11 C. 9, 10, 11, 12
B. 10, 11, 12 D. 10, 11, 12, 13

18. Given that m < k ≤ n satisfy both two linear inequalities 2k – 5 ≤ 11 and
k
k > 3 + , find the values of m and n.
3
A. m = 4 and n = 7 C. m = 5 and n = 7
B. m = 4 and n = 8 D. m = 5 and n = 8

19. The figure below shows a shaded region that satisfies linear inequalities. The two inequalities
other than x  0 and y  0, which define the shaded regions are.

y
y = 2x + 3

O 5
O
A. x < 5 and y < 2x + 3.
B. x < 5 and y ≤ 2x + 3
x
C. x ≤ 5 and y < 2x + 3
D. x ≤ 5 and y ≤ 2x + 3

m
20. The solution for  1  2m  4 is
2
A. m  -2 C. m ≤-2
B. m  2 D. m ≤ 2

Linear Inequalities 9
PAST YEAR SPM QUESTIONS

November 2003
3x
1. List all the integers x which satisfy both the inequalities 2x + 1  19 and <9
4
A. 9, 10 C. 9 , 10 , 11
B. 10 , 11 D. 10 , 11 , 12

2. Diagram 1 represents two simultaneous linear inequalities on a number line.



-4 -3 -2-1 0 1 2 3
Diagram 1
The inequality which represents the common value of both the inequalities is
A. - 1  x  2 C. -1 < x ≤ 2
B. - 1  x < 2 D. -1 < x < 2

July 2004

3. The solution of the simultaneous inequalities 3-t<5 and 3t -15 ≤ 0 is

A. 0  t  2 C. 5  t  8
B. 2  t  5 D. - 2  t  5

November 2004

4. Given that x is an integer , find all the values of x that satisfy both the inequalities x < 4 and
11 – 3x  5.
A 2,3 C. 2 , 3 , 4
B 3,4 D. 3 , 4 , 5

m
5. The solution for + 1  2m + 4 is
2
A m  -2 C. m  -2
B m  2 D. m  2

July 2005
1
6. Find the solution of the simultaneous inequalities x  2 and 1 - 6 x  -11 .
3
A. x  2 C. 2  x  6
B. x  6 D. 2  x  6

November 2005

7. List all the integers x that satisfy the inequalities 3x – 8 < x  5 + 4x

A 0,1,2,3 C. -1 , 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4
B -1 , 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 D. -2 , -1 , 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4

July 2006

8. List all the integers x that satisfy the inequalities - 2  x  2 .

A. -2, -1, 0, 1, 2 C. -1, 0, 1,2
B. -2, -1, 0, 1 D. -1, 1,2

Linear Inequalities 10
November 2006
x 1
9. List all the integers x which satisfy both inequalities -1 x and  x  4 > x
3 2
A. -1, 0, 1, 2, 3 C. -1, 0, 1
B. 0, 1, 2, 3 D. 0, 1

10. SPM June 2007 Q 26

List all the integers of x that satisfy both the simultaneous linear inequalities
x
 1 and 5 - x �-1
2

A 3, 4, 5
B 2, 3, 4, 5
C 3, 4, 5, 6
D 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

11. SPM Nov 2007, Q25

2x
The solution for 4 x  5  1 - is
3
A 7
x-
3
B 6
x-
7
C 1
x-
3
D 2
x-
7

12. SPM Jun 2008, Q23

List all the integers of x which satisfy the inequality 2  x  1  6 .

A 3, 4
B 2, 3, 4
C 2, 3, 4, 5
D 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

13. SPM Jun 2008, Q24

Which of the following inequalities satisfy the simultaneous linear inequalities

1
4 p - 3 �p and p  2 � p ?
2

A -4 �p �1
B -1 �p �4
C p �-1 and p �1
D p �-1 and p �4

Linear Inequalities 11
14. SPM Nov 2008 Q25

Which number line represents the solution of the simultaneous linear inequalities
2 x - 3 �5 and 4 - x  -6 ?

Linear Inequalities 12
 ANSWERS

1.1. Identifying relationship ‘Greater than (>)’ And ‘less than ( <)’
QUESTIONS
(Write ‘<’ or ‘>’)
-2 < 5
6 > 0
-5 < -1
-2 < 2
4 > -5
-3 < -2
-10 < 1
7 > -20
1.2. Fraction Number
QUESTION 1 QUESTION 2
(Write ‘<’ or ‘>’) (Write ‘<’ or ‘>’)
3 2 1 8 5 2
5 > 5 > 5 9 < 9 < 9
3 5
2
11 > - 11 > - 11 - 53 < 0 < 1
5
1 1 1 1 1 1
4 > 6 > 8 6 < 5 < 3
1 2 3 2 3 4
2 > 5 > 10 12 < 8 < 6

2. 1 presenting a linear inequality on a number line and list the integer

INEQUALITY DESCRIPTION NUMBER LINE LIST OF INTEGERS

x>5 o
x is greater than 5 6 , 7 , 8 , …….
5 6 7 8 9
x  0 X is greater or equal to 
0 0 , 1 , 2, 3 , 4 , ….
0 1 2 3 4
x  -3 X is greater or equal to 
-3 -3 , -2 , -1 , …….
-3 -2 -1 0 1
x<8 o
X is less than 8 7 , 6 , 5 , ………
4 5 6 7 8
x 5 x is less or equal to 5 
5 , 4, 3 , ……
1 2 3 4 5

Linear Inequalities 13
2. 2 Representing the Simultaneous Linear Inequalities on A Number Line and Listing the Integers.

Number line Method Inequality Integers

1.write the inequalities x  0 , x  -4
2.write x in middle -4  x , x  0
3.complete the Inequalities -4  x  0 -4 , -3 , -2 , -1 , 0

1.write the inequalities x  9, x  5

2.write x in middle 5  x,x  9 5,6,7,8,9
3.complete the Inequalities 5  x  9

1.write the inequalities x < 2, x > -2

2.write x in middle -2 < x , x < 2 -1 , 0 , 1
3.complete the Inequalities -2 < x < 2

1.write the inequalities x < 0, x > -4

2.write x in middle -4 < x , x < 0
3.complete the Inequalities -4 < x < 0 -3 , -2 , -1

1.write the inequalities x < 9, x > 5

2.write x in middle 5<x,x<9 6,7,8
3.complete the 5<x<9
Inequalities

1.write the inequalities x < 2, x  -2

2.write x in middle -2  x , x < 2 -2 , -1 , 0 , 1
3.complete the -2  x < 2
Inequalities
1.write the inequalities x < 0, x  -4
2.write x in middle -4  x , x < 0 -4 , -3 , -2 , -1
3.complete the -4  x < 0
inequalities
1.write the inequalities x < 9, x  5
2.write x in middle 5  x,x<9 5,6,7,8
3.complete the 5  x<9
Inequalities

1.write the inequalities x  2, x > -2

2.write x in middle -2 < x , x  2 -1 , 0 , 1 , 2
3.complete the inequalities -2 < x  2

1.write the inequalities x  9, x > 5

2.write x in middle 5<x,x  9 6,7,8,9
3.complete the 5<x  9
Inequalities

Linear Inequalities 14
3.1 Solving Linear Inequalities by Adding, Subtracting, Multiplying and Dividing

Inequalities Method Number Line Integers

x-2>5
x-2+2>5+2 Add 2 to both sides 8, 9, 10….
x>7
x – 4  -1
x – 4 + 4  -1 + 4 Add 4 to both sides 3, 2, 1, 0…
x 3
x -10 < 16
x – 10 + 10 < 16 + 10 Add 10 to both sides 25, 24, 23 ……
x < 26

x+2>5 Subtract 2 from both

x+2–2>5-2 sides 4, 5, 6…
x>3

x + 4  -1 Subtract 4 from both

x + 4 – 4  -1 – 4 sides -5, -4, -3…
x  -5

x + 10  16 Subtract 10 from both

x + 10 – 10  16 -10 sides 6, 5, 4 ……
x  6

2x > 6
2x 6 Divide both sides by 2 4, 5, 6 …
>
2 2
x>3

-3x < 15
- 3x 15 Divide both sides by -3 -6, -7, -8 …..
<
-3 -3
x < -5
x
<2 Multiply both sides with 4, 5, 6…
2
x 2
(2)< 2(2)
2
x<4
x
 9 Multiply both sides with
3
x 2 27, 28, 29……..
(3)  9(3)
3
x  27

Linear Inequalities 15
 3.2 Solving Using a Combination of Operation

INEQUALITIES METHOD NUMBER LINE LIST OF INTEGER

3x + 8  11 
3x + 8 -8  11 – 8 Subtract 8 from both -1 , 0 , 1………….
3x  -3 sides -1 0 1 2 3
3x -3
 Divide both sides by 4
3 3
x  -1
5x - 3 < 17 o
5x - 3 + 3 < 17 + 3 Add 3 to both sides
5x < 20 1 2 3 4 5 4 , 3 , 2…….
5x 20 Divide both sides by 5
<
5 5
x<5
x
-1<3
2
x Add 1 to both sides
- 1+ 1 < 3 + 1 o 7 , 6 , 5 ,……
2
x
<4 4 5 6 7 8
2
x
(2) < 4(2)
2 Multiply both sides by 2
x<8
x
+ 5 >-3
2
x o
+ 5 - 5 > -3 – 5 Subtract 5 from both -15 , -14 , -13,…..
2
sides -16 -15 -14 -13 -12
x
> -8
2
x
(2 )> -8(2)
2 Multiply both sides by 2
x > -16

x
-8  -7
5
x
-8+8  -7+8

Add 8 to both sides 5 , 6 , 7, …….
5
x 5 6 7 8 9
 1
5 Multiply both sides by 5
x
(5)  1(5)
5
x  5

Linear Inequalities 16
3.3 Solve Each of the Following Pairs of Simultaneous Inequalities

Inequalities Method Number line List of integer

i) 2x + 3< 9
2x + 3 -3 < 9 – 3 Subtract 3 from both
2x < 6 sides -2, -1, 0, 1, 2
2x 6
< Divide both side by 2
2 2
x<3

x
ii) - 4  -5
2
x
- 4 + 4  -5 + 4 Add 4 to both sides
2
x
 -1
2 Multiply both sides
x with 2
(2)  -1(2)
2
x  -2
x
i) +5  7
2
x
+ 5 -5  7 – 5 Subtract 5 both sides 2, 3, 4
2
x
2
2
x
(2)  2(2)
2 multiply both sides by
x  4 2

ii)3x – 5 < -8
3x – 5 + 5 < -8 + 5
3x < -3 Add 5 to both sides
3x 3 Divide both sides by 3
<
3 3
x>1

3x
i) + 2  11
4
3x
+ 2 – 2  11 – Subtract 2 both sides
4
2
3x
 9
4 Multiply both sides by 12, 13, 14 …
3x 2
(4)  9(4)
4 Divide the both sides
3x 36 by 3

3 3
x  12

ii)x >5

Linear Inequalities 17
 Inequalities Method Number line List of integer
i)3x + 5 > 20
3x + 5 – 5 > 20 – 5 Subtract 5 both sides 6,7,8,9
3x > 15
3x 15
> Divide both sides by 3
3 3
x>5

ii)2x – 11  7
2x -11 + 11  7 + 11 Add 11 to both sides
2x  18 Divide both sides by 2
2x 18

2 2
x  9

2x – 1 < 19 < 3x – 5
2x – 1 < 19
2x -1 + 1 < 19 + 1 Add 1 to both sides
2x < 20 Divide both sides by 2
2x 20
< 9
2 2
x < 10

ii) 19 < 3x – 5
19 + 5 < 3x -5 + 5 Add 5 to both sides
24 < 3x
24 3x
<
3 3
Divide both sides by 3
8<x
x>8

3x -2  10  5x

3x – 2  10
3x – 2 + 2  10 + 2 Add 2 to both sides
3x  12
3x 12 2, 3, 4
 Divide both sides by 3
3 3
x  4

ii) 10  5x
Divide both sides by 5
10 5x

5 5
2  x
x  2

Linear Inequalities 18
 EXAMINATION FORMAT QUESTIONS

1. C 11. C
12. A
2. A 13. B
14. D
3. B 15 A
16. B
4. C 17. B
5. D 18. D
19. B
6. B 20. D
7. C
8. C

9. D

10. B

PAST YEAR SPM QUESTIONS

No Question Key
1 Nov 2003 C
2 Nov 2003 B
3 July 2004 D
4 Nov 2004 A
5 Nov 2004 A
6 July 2005 D
7 Nov 2005 B
8 July 2006 C
9 Nov 2006 A
10 Jun 2007 C
11 Nov 2007 B
12 Jun 2008 B
13 Jun 2008 A
14 Nov 2008 A
15

Linear Inequalities 19