10TH EDITION COLLEGE ALGEBRA

LIAL
HORNSBY
SCHNEIDER

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1.7 Inequalities
Linear Inequalities
Three-Part Inequalities
Quadratic Inequalities
Rational Inequalities

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 Properties of Inequality

For real numbers a, b and c:

1. If a < b, then a + c < b + c,

2. If a < b and if c > 0, then ac < bc,
3. If a < b and if c < 0, then ac > bc.

Replacing < with >, ≤ , or ≥ results in similar properties.

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 Motion Problems

Note Multiplication may be replaced

by division in properties 2 and 3.

Always remember to reverse the

direction of the inequality symbol when
multiplying or dividing by a negative
number.

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Linear Inequality in One
Variable
A linear inequality in one variable is an
inequality that can be written in the
form
ax  b  0,
where a and b are real numbers with
a ≠ 0. (Any of the symbols ≥, <, or ≤
may also be used.)

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 Example 1 SOLVING A LINEAR INEQUALITY

Solve 3 x  5  7

Solution 3 x  5  7
3 x  5  5  7  5 Subtract 5.

3 x  12 Divide by –3; reverse

direction of the
3 x 12 inequality symbol
Don’t forget to 
reverse the 3 3 when multiplying or
symbol here.
dividing by a negative
number.

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Type of Set Interval Graph
Interval Notation

Open {x  x > a} (a, ) (

a
interval {x  a < x < b} (a, b)
(
(
a b
{x  x < b} (– , b)
(
b

Other {x  x ≥ a} [a, ) [
a
interval {x  a < x ≤ b} (a, b] a
(
b
]

{x  a ≤ x < b} [a, b) [
a
)
b
{x  x≤ b} (– , b] ]
b

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Type of Set Interval Graph
Interval Notation

Closed
interval {xa ≤ x ≤ b} [a, b] [ ]
a b

Disjoint
{xx < a or x > b} (
(
interval (– , a) (b, ) a b

All real
numbers {xx is a real numbers} (– , )

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 Example 2 SOLVING A LINEAR INEQUALITY

Solve 4 – 3x ≤ 7 + 2x. Give the solution

set in interval notation and graph it.
Solution
4  3 x  7  2x
4  3 x  4  7  2x  4 Subtract 4.

3 x  3  2x
3 x  2x  3  2x  2x Subtract 2x.

5 x  3

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 Example 2 SOLVING A LINEAR INEQUALITY

Solve 4 – 3x ≤ 7 + 2x. Give the solution

set in interval notation and graph it.
Solution 5 x  3
5 x 3 Divide by –5; reverse the
 direction of the inequality
5 x 5 symbol.
3
x
5 [
3
 0
 3 
5

In interval notation the solution set is   ,   .

 5 
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 Example 3 SOLVING A THREE-PART
INEQUALITY
Solve –2 < 5 + 3x < 20.

Solution
2  5  3 x  20
2  5  5  3 x  5  20  5 Subtract 5 from
each part.
7  3 x  15
7 3 x 15
Divide each
part by 3.
  The solution set is
3 3 3
7  7 
 x5 the interval   ,5  .
3  3 
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 Example 4 FINDING THE BREAK-EVEN
POINT
If the revenue and cost of a certain product
are given by
R  4 x and C  2x  1000,
where x is the number of units produced and
sold, at what production level does R at least
equal C?

Solution Set R ≥ C and solve for x.

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 Example 4 FINDING THE BREAK-EVEN
POINT

Solution Set R ≥ C and solve for x.

R C
4 x  2 x  1000 Substitute.

2 x  1000 Subtract 2x.

x  500 Divide by 2.
The break-even point is at x = 500. This
product will at least break even only if the
number of units produced and sold is in the
interval [500, ).
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Quadratic Inequalities

A quadratic inequality is an inequality

that can be written in the form
ax 2  bx  c  0
for real numbers a, b, and c with a ≠ 0.
(The symbol < can be replaced with >,
≤, or ≥.)

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Solving a Quadratic Inequality

Step 1 Solve the corresponding quadratic

equation.
Step 2 Identify the intervals determined by
the solutions of the equation.
Step 3 Use a test value from each interval
to determine which intervals form
the solution set.

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 Example 5 SOLVING A QUADRATIC
INEQULITY
Solve x 2  x  12  0

Solution
Step 1 Find the values of x that satisfy
x2 – x – 12 = 0
Corresponding quadratic
x  x  12  0
2
equation
( x  3)( x  4)  0 Factor.

x  3  0 or x40 Zero-factor
property

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 Example 5 SOLVING A QUADRATIC
INEQULITY
Solve x 2  x  12  0

Solution
Step 1
x  3  0 or x40 Zero-factor
property

x  3 or x4

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 Example 5 SOLVING A QUADRATIC
INEQULITY

Step 2 The two numbers –3 and 4 divide

the number line into three intervals. If a
value in Interval A makes the polynomial
negative, then all values in Interval A will
make the polynomial negative.

Interval A Interval B Interval C

(–, – 3) (– 3, 4) (4, )

–3 0 4

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 Example 5 SOLVING A QUADRATIC
INEQULITY
Step3 Choose a test value from each interval.
Test Is x2 –x – 12< 0
Interval
Value True or False?
A: (– , – 3) –4 (–4)2 – 4(–4) – 12 < 0 ?
8 < 0 False
B: (– 3, 4) 0 02 – 0 – 12 < 0 ?
–12 < 0 True
C: (4, ) 5 52 – 5 – 12 < 0 ?
8 < 0 False
Since the values in Interval B make the inequality
true, the solution set is (– 3, 4).
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 Example 6 SOLVING QUADRATIC
INEQULAITY
Solve 2 x 2  5 x  12  0.

Solution
Step 1 Find the values of x that satisfy this
equation.
Corresponding
2 x  5 x  12  0
2
quadratic equation
(2 x  3)( x  4)  0 Factor.

2x  3  0 or x40 Zero-factor
property

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 Example 6 SOLVING QUADRATIC
INEQULAITY
Solve 2 x 2  5 x  12  0.

Solution
Step 1 Find the values of x that satisfy this
equation.
2x  3  0 or x40 Zero-factor
property
3
x or x  4
2

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 Example 6 SOLVING QUADRATIC
INEQULAITY
Solve 2 x 2  5 x  12  0.

Solution
Step 2 The values form the intervals on
the number line.
Interval A Interval B Interval C
(–, – 4) (– 4, 3/2) (3/2, )

0
–4 3/2

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 Example 6 SOLVING QUADRATIC
INEQULAITY
Step3 Choose a test value from each interval.
Test Is 2x2 + 5x – 12 ≥ 0
Interval
Value True or False?
A: (– , – 4) –5 2(–4)2 +5(–5) – 12 ≥ 0 ?
13 ≥ 0 True
B: (4, 3/2) 0 2(0)2 +5(0) – 12 ≥ 0 ?
–12 ≥ 0 False
C: (3/2, ) 2 2(2)2 + 5(2) – 12 ≥ 0 ?
6 ≥ 0 True
The values in Intervals A and B make the inequality true, the
solution set is the union of the intervals.  ,  4    3 ,  
 8 

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 Inequalities

Note Inequalities that use the

symbols < and > are called strict
inequalities; ≤ and ≥ are used in nonstrict
inequalities. The solutions of the equation
in Example 5 were not included in the
solution set since the inequality was a strict
inequality. In Example 6, the solutions of
the equation were included in the solution
set because of the nonstrict inequality.
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 Example 7 SOLVING A PROBLEM INVOLVING
THE HEIGHT OF A PROJECTILE

If a projectile is launched from ground level

with an initial velocity of 96 ft per sec, its
height in feet t seconds after launching is s
feet, where
s  16t  96t .
2

When will the projectile be greater than 80 ft

above ground level?

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 Example 7 SOLVING A PROBLEM INVOLVING
THE HEIGHT OF A PROJECTILE
Solution
Set s greater than
16t  96t  80
2
80.

16t  96t  80  0
2
Subtract 80.

t  6t  5  0
2
Divide by – 16.

Reverse direction
of the inequality
symbol. Now solve the
corresponding equation.

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 Example 7 SOLVING A PROBLEM INVOLVING
THE HEIGHT OF A PROJECTILE
Solution
t  6t  5  0
2

(t  1)(t  5)  0 Factor.

t 1 or t  5 Zero-factor property

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 Example 7 SOLVING A PROBLEM INVOLVING
THE HEIGHT OF A PROJECTILE
Solution
Interval A Interval B Interval C
(– , 1) (1, 5) (5, )

0
1 5

Use the procedure of Examples 5 and 6 to

determine that values in Interval B, (1, 5) ,
satisfy the inequality. The projectile is
greater than 80 ft above ground level
between 1 and 5 sec after it is launched.
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Solving a Rational Inequality
Step 1 Rewrite the inequality, if necessary, so that
0 is on one side and there is a single fraction on the
other side.
Step 2 Determine the values that will cause either
the numerator or the denominator of the rational
expression to equal 0. These values determine the
intervals of the number line to consider.

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Solving a Rational Inequality
Step 3 Use a test value from each interval to
determine which intervals form the solution set.

A value causing the denominator to equal zero will

never be included in the solution set. If the
inequality is strict, any value causing the numerator
to equal zero will be excluded; if nonstrict, any such
value will be included.

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 Caution Solving a rational inequality such as
5
1
x4
by multiplying both sides by x + 4 to obtain
5 ≥ x + 4 requires considering two cases, since
the sign of x + 4 depends on the value of x. If
x + 4 were negative, then the inequality
symbol must be reversed. The procedure
described in the next two examples eliminates
the need for considering separate cases.

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 Example 8 SOLVING A RATIONAL INEQUALITY

5
Solve  1.
x4
Solution
Step 1 5
1 0 Subtract 1 so that 0 is on
x4 one side.

5 x4
 0 Use x + 4 as the common
x4 x4 denominator.

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 Example 8 SOLVING A RATIONAL INEQUALITY

5
Solve  1.
x4
Solution
Step 1 5 x4
 0 Use x + 4 as the common
Note the x4 x4 denominator.
careful use
5  ( x  4) Write as a single fraction.
0
of
parentheses.
x4
1 x Combine terms in the
0 numerator; be careful
x4 with signs.
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 Example 8 SOLVING A RATIONAL INEQUALITY

5
Solve  1.
x4
Solution
Step 2 The quotient possibly changes sign
only where x-values make the numerator or
denominator 0. This occurs at
1 x  0 or x  4  0
x  1 or x  4

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 Example 8 SOLVING A RATIONAL INEQUALITY

5
Solve  1.
x4
Solution
Step 2
Interval A Interval B Interval C
(–, – 4) (– 4, 1) (1, )

0
–4 1

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 Example 8 SOLVING A RATIONAL INEQUALITY

Step3 Choose test values.

Test 5
Interval Is  1True or False?
Value x4
A: (– , – 4) –5 5
 1 ? 5  1 False
5  4
B: (–4, 1) 0 5
 1 ? 5  1 True
04 4
C: (1, ) 2 5 5
1 ?  1 False
24 6
The values in the interval (–4, 1) satisfy the original inequality. The value 1
makes the nonstrict inequality true, so it must be included in the solution
set. Since –4 makes the denominator 0, it must be excluded. The
solutions set is (–4, 2].
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 Caution As suggested by Example 8,
be careful with the endpoints of the
intervals when solving rational
inequalities.

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 Example 9 SOLVING A RATIONAL
INEQULAITY
2x  1
Solve  5.
3x  4
Solution
2x  1
5 0 Subtract 5.
3x  4
2x  1 5(3 x  4)
 0 Common denominator
3x  4 3x  4 is 3x + 4.

2x  1  5(3 x  4) Write as a single

0 fraction.
3x  4

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 Example 9 SOLVING A RATIONAL
INEQULAITY
2x  1
Solve  5.
3x  4
Solution
2x  1  5(3 x  4) Write as a single
0 fraction.
3x  4
2x  1  15 x  20
0 Distributive property
Be careful 3x  4
with signs.
13 x  21
0 Combine terms in the
3x  4 numerator.

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 Example 9 SOLVING A RATIONAL
INEQULAITY
2x  1
Solve  5.
3x  4
Solution
Set the numerator and denominator equal to
0 and solve the resulting equations to get the
values of x where sign changes may occur.
13 x  21  0 or 3x  4  0
21 4
x or x
13 3
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 Example 9 SOLVING A RATIONAL
INEQULAITY
2x  1
Solve  5.
3x  4
Solution

Interval A Interval B Interval C

 21  21 4   4 
  ,     ,    , 
 13   13 3   3 

21 4
 
13 3

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 Example 9 SOLVING A RATIONAL
INEQULAITY
Solution
Now choose from the intervals and verify that:

–2 from Interval A makes the inequality true;

–1.5 from Interval B makes the inequality false;
0 from Interval C makes the inequality true.
Because of the < symbol, neither endpoint satisfies
the inequality, so the solution set is
 21  4 
 ,      ,   .
 13   3 
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