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Solving Inequalities

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Solving Inequalities Revision

Solving Inequalities

Inequalities are not always presented to us in a straight forward way. More often than not, they’re all jumbled up – like equations often are – and therefore they need to be rearranged and solved.

Make sure you are happy with the following topics before continuing.

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Type 1: Listing values

x is an integer such that -1\leq x \lt 4. List all numbers that satisfy this inequality.

For such questions you need consider if the inequalities are inclusive or strict, in this case we have,

x takes any value greater then or equal to -1       and        x takes any value less than 4

Hence, the integers that satisfy the inequality are: -1,0,1,2,3

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Type 2: Solving Inequalities Basic

Solve the inequality 5a - 4 > 2a + 8

Firstly, add 4 to both sides of the inequality to get,

\begin{aligned}(\textcolor{maroon}{+4})\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\, 5a -4 &\gt 2a+8 \\ 5a &\gt 2a+12 \end{aligned}

Then, subtract 2a from both sides to get,

\begin{aligned}(\textcolor{maroon}{-2a})\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\, 5a &\gt 2a+12  \\ 3a &\gt 12 \end{aligned}

Finally, divide both sides by 3 to get,

\begin{aligned}(\textcolor{maroon}{\div 3})\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\, 3a &\gt 12 \\ a &\gt 4 \end{aligned}

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Type 3: Solving Inequalities 2 signs

Solve the inequality 5 \lt 2x-3 \lt  13

Firstly, add 3 to each side of the inequality,

(Remember what you do to one side you do to all sides,  even if there are 3 sides), to get

\begin{aligned}(\textcolor{maroon}{+3})\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\, 5& \lt 2x-3 \lt 13 \\ 8  &\lt 2x \lt 16 \end{aligned}

Finally, divide both sides by 2 to get,

\begin{aligned}(\textcolor{maroon}{\div 2})\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\, 8 \lt 2x&  \lt 16  \\ 4 \lt x& \lt 8 \end{aligned}

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Type 4: Multiplying and Dividing by a Negative Number 

When rearranging an inequality, you are performing the same operation to both sides of the inequality without changing it (just like as you would with an equation) but with one exception:

If you multiply or divide by a negative number, then the inequality sign changes direction

For example, if we have to solve the inequality -2x \gt 4, we have to divide both sides by -2,

\begin{aligned}(\textcolor{maroon}{\div -2})\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\, -2x &\gt 4 \\ x &\lt -2 \end{aligned}

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Level 4-5GCSEAQAEdexcelOCRWJECEdexcel iGCSE

Example

Solve the inequality \dfrac{4x+4}{2} > x

[3 marks]

We need to get rid of the fraction first by multiplying by 2

{4x+4} > 2x

Then subtract 4x

4 > -2x

Then divide by -2

-2 < x

Remember the sign changes direction when multiplying or dividing by a negative number.

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Solving Inequalities Example Questions

We solve this inequality by simply rearranging it to make k the subject,

 

 \begin{aligned}7 - 3k &> -5k + 12 \\ 7 +2k&> 12 \\  2k&>5 \\ k&>\dfrac{5}{2}\end{aligned}

 

Hence k can take any value greater than \dfrac{5}{2}

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Gold Standard Education

We solve this inequality by simply rearranging it to make x the subject,

 

 \begin{aligned}\dfrac{5x-1}{4} &> 3x \\ \\ 5x-1&> 12x \\  -1&>7x \\ x&<-\dfrac{1}{7}\end{aligned}

 

Hence k can take any value less than -\dfrac{1}{7}

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Gold Standard Education

We solve this inequality by simply rearranging it to make x  the subject,

 

 \begin{aligned}2x+5 &> 3x-2 \\ 7& > x \\ x&<7\end{aligned}

Hence x can take any value less than 7

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Gold Standard Education

We solve this inequality by simply rearranging it to make x the subject in the center of the inequality,

 

 \begin{aligned}4-3x&\leq19 \\ -3x&\leq 15 \\ 3x&\geq -15\\  x&\geq-5\end{aligned}

 

Hence x can take any value greater or equal to -5

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Gold Standard Education

We solve this inequality by simply rearranging it to make x the subject in the center of the inequality,

 

 \begin{aligned}-5<2x&-3<10 \\ -2<2x&<13 \\ \\ -1<x&<\frac{13}{2}\end{aligned}

 

Hence x can take any value greater than -1 and less than \dfrac{13}{2}

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Gold Standard Education

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