SECTION 1.

5 INEQUALITIES

Linear Inequality in one variable is an inequality written as 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 < 𝑐 (a, b and c are real numbers, a≠ 0).
Inequality symbol (<) can be replaced with >, ≤ , ≥.

The solution set of an inequality is the set of all real numbers for which the inequality is a true statement.

Two inequalities are equivalent inequalities if they have the same solution set.

Compound Inequalities
A compound inequality is formed by joining two inequalities with the connective word and or or.
The solution set of a compound inequality with the connective word or is the union of the solution sets of the two
inequalities.

The solution set of a compound inequality with the connective word and is the intersection of the solution sets of the
two inequalities.

Absolute Value Inequalities

Polynomial Inequalities
Any value of x that causes a polynomial in x to equal zero is called a zero of the polynomial.
The real zeros of the polynomial are also referred to as critical values of the inequality.

Section 1.5: Inequalities Page 1 of 6

Rational inequalities
Involve rational expressions, and they can be solved by an extension of the critical value method.

In Exercises 5 to 12, use the properties of inequalities to solve each inequality. Write the solution set using set
builder notation, and graph the solution set.

8. 5𝑥 + 6 < 2𝑥 + 1
5𝑥 − 2𝑥 < 1 − 6
3𝑥 < −5
3𝑥 5
< −
3 3
5
𝑥< −
3
5
Solution set: {𝒙 |𝒙 < − 3} Graph: )
-5/3

12. 3(𝑥 + 7) ≤ 5(2𝑥 − 8)

3𝑥 + 21 ≤ 10𝑥 − 40
3𝑥 − 10𝑥 ≤ − 40 − 21
−7𝑥 ≤ − 61
−7𝑥 − 61
≥
−7 −7
61
𝑥≥
7
𝟔𝟏
Solution set: {𝒙 |𝒙 ≥ 𝟕
} Graph: [
61/7

Section 1.5: Inequalities Page 2 of 6

In Exercises 13 to 20, solve each compound inequality. Write the solution set using set-builder notation, and
graph the solution set.

15. 10 ≥ 3𝑥 − 1 ≥ 0
0 ≤ 3𝑥 − 1 ≤ 10
0 + 1 ≤ 3𝑥 ≤ 10 + 1
1 ≤ 3𝑥 ≤ 11
1 3𝑥 11
≤ ≤
3 3 3
1 11
≤𝑥 ≤
3 3
𝟏 𝟏𝟏
Solution set: { 𝒙 | 𝟑
≤𝒙 ≤ 𝟑
} Graph: [ ]
1/3 11/3

19. −4𝑥 + 5 > 9 𝑜𝑟 4𝑥 + 1 < 5

−4𝑥 > 9 − 5 4𝑥 < 5 − 1
−4𝑥 > 4 4𝑥 < 4
−4𝑥 4 4𝑥 4
< <
−4 −4 4 4
𝑥 < −1 𝑜𝑟 𝑥<1

Solution set: {x|𝑥 < −1} ∪ {𝑥| 𝑥 < 1} = {𝑥| 𝑥 < 1} Graph:

In Exercises 21 to 32, use interval notation to express the solution set of each inequality.

23. | 𝑥 + 3| ≥ 5 25. | 3𝑥 − 10| ≤ 14

𝑥 + 3≥ 5 or 𝑥 + 3 ≤ −5 −14 ≤ 3𝑥 − 10 ≤ 14
𝑥 ≥ 5−3 𝑥 ≤ −5 − 3 −14 + 10 ≤ 3𝑥 ≤ 14 + 10
𝑥 ≥ 2 or 𝑥 ≤ −8 −4 ≤ 3𝑥 ≤ 24
Solution set:(−∞, −8] ∪ [𝟐, ∞) 4 3𝑥 24
− ≤ ≤
3 3 3
4
− ≤𝑥≤ 8
3
4
Solution set: [− 3 , 8]

32. | 2𝑥 + 7| ≤ 0
2𝑥 + 7 = 0
2𝑥 = −7
2𝑥 7
=−
2 2
7
𝑥 = − 2=
𝟕
Solution set: {− }
𝟐

Section 1.5: Inequalities Page 3 of 6

In Exercises 33 to 44, use the critical value method to solve each polynomial inequality. Use interval notation to
write each solution set.

35. 𝑥 2 − 16 ≤ 0

To find the critical values

𝑥 2 − 16 = 0
(𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 4) = 0
𝑥+4=0 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 − 4 = 0
x = 4, − 4

Critical values: −4, 4

| |
−4 4

(−∞, −4) ( −4,4) (4, ∞)

𝑥−4 − − +
𝑥+4 − + +
(𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 + 4) + − +

Solution set: [−4, 4]

39. 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 ≥ 28
𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 28 ≥ 0
To find the critical values
𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 28 = 0
(𝑥 − 7)(𝑥 + 4) =0
𝑥 − 7 = 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑥+4=0

𝑥 = 7, −4

Critical values: , −4, 7

| |
−4 7

(−∞, −4) ( −4,7) (7, ∞)

𝑥+4 − + +
𝑥−7 − − +
(𝑥 − 7)(𝑥 + 4) + − +

Solution set: (−∞, −𝟒] ∪ [𝟕, ∞)

Section 1.5: Inequalities Page 4 of 6

In Exercises 45 to 58, use the critical value method to solve each rational inequality. Write each solution set in
interval notation.
𝑥+4
45. < 0 Domain: 𝒙 − 𝟏 ≠ 𝟎 ⇒ 𝒙 ≠ 𝟏
𝑥−1

To find the critical values

𝑥 + 4 = 0 or 𝑥 − 1 = 0
𝑥 = −4 , 𝑥 = 1
Critical values: , −4, 1

| |
−4 1

(−∞, −4) ( −4,1) (1, ∞)

𝑥+4 − + +
𝑥−1 − − +
𝑥+4 + − +
𝑥−1

Solution set: (−4, 1)

𝑥+2
53. 𝑥−5
≤2
𝑥+2
−2≤0
𝑥−5
𝑥 + 2 2 ∙ (𝑥 − 5)
− ≤0
𝑥−5 𝑥−5
𝑥 + 2 − 2𝑥 + 10
≤0
𝑥−5
−𝑥+12
𝑥−5
≤0 Domain: 𝒙 − 𝟓 ≠ 𝟎 ⇒ 𝒙 ≠ 𝟓

To find Critical values −𝑥 + 12 = 0 or 𝑥−5=0

𝑥 = 12 or 𝑥=5

Critical values: 5,12

| |
5 12

(−∞, 5) ( 5,12) (12, ∞)

−𝑥 + 12 + + −
𝑥−5 − + +
−𝑥 + 12
− + −
𝑥−5

Solution set: (−∞, 5) ∪ [12, ∞)

Section 1.5: Inequalities Page 5 of 6

Applications of Inequalities

67. Revenue The monthly revenue R for a product is given by R  420 x  2 x2 , where x is the price in dollars of each

unit produced. Find the interval, in terms of x, for which the monthly revenue is greater than $0.

Solution:

R  420 x  2 x 2  0
2 x  210  x   0
To find critical values:
2x  0 or  210  x   0
x0 x  210

Critical values: 0, 210

| |
0 210

(−∞, 0) ( 0,210) (210, ∞)

2𝑥 − + +
210 − 𝑥 + + −
−𝑥 + 12
− + −
𝑥−5

Solution set: ($0, $210)

Concept Check

1. State whether each pair of inequalities are equivalent.

a. x   3, x  0 Answer: Not equivalent
c.  2 x  0, x  0 Answer: Equivalent

2. Write the inequality |𝑥 + 2| > 3 as a compound inequality without absolute value signs.
Answer: 𝑥 + 2 > 3 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 + 2 < −3
3. Write the inequality |𝑥 − 5|  8 as a compound inequality without absolute value signs.
Answer: −8 ≤ 𝑥 − 5 ≤ 8
4. The solution of | 5𝑥 − 1| < −4 is ___. Answer: No solution or ∅
5. The possible values of 𝑥 in | 𝑥 − 7| ≥ 0 are ___. Answer: all real numbers or (−∞, ∞)
6. The critical values of the given inequalities are ___.
a. 𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 < 0 Answer: 0 and – 8
2𝑥−1
d. 𝑥(𝑥−3)
>0 Answer: 0, ½ and 3

Practice Exercises: 11, 13, 18, 33, 40, 48, 54

Section 1.5: Inequalities Page 6 of 6