Inequalities on number lines

The symbols <, ≤, > and ≥ are used to express inequalities (things that are not equal).

𝑥 < 3 means ………………………… 2 < 𝑥 means …………………………

𝑥 ≤ 5 means ………………………… −1 ≤ 𝑥 means …………………………

𝑥 > 4 means ………………………… 10 > 𝑥 means …………………………

𝑥 ≥ −3 means ………………………… 6 ≥ 𝑥 means …………………………

2 < 𝑥 < 7 means …………………………

1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 9 means …………………………

It is possible to represent inequalities on a number line.

Examples
1. The inequality 𝑥 < 5 can be represented as
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

2. The inequality 𝑥 ≥ 2 can be represented as

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

3. The inequality 1 < 𝑥 < 4 can be represented as

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

4. The inequality −2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3 can be represented as

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

5. The inequality represented in the diagram is

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

6. The inequality represented in the diagram is

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

7. The inequality represented in the diagram is

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

8. The inequality represented in the diagram is

-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Exercise
1. Represent each inequality on the number line.
(a) 𝑥 < 4 (b) 𝑥 ≥ 1

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

(c) 𝑥 > 0 (d) 𝑥 ≤ 3

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

(e) 𝑥 ≥ −2 (f) 𝑥 < 2

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

(g) 1 < 𝑥 (h) 4 ≥ 𝑥

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

(i) 1 < 𝑥 < 5 (j) 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3

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

(k) −3 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2 (l) −1 < 𝑥 < 4

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

(m) 2 < 𝑥 ≤ 5 (n) 0 ≤ 𝑥 < 3

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

(o) −2 ≤ 𝑥 < 1 (p) −3 < 𝑥 ≤ −1

-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
2. Write down the inequality represented in each part.
(a) (b)

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

(c) (d)

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

(e) (f)

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

(g) (h)

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

(i) (j)

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

(k) (l)

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

(m) (n)

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

(o) (p)

-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Answers
1. (a) (b)
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
(c) (d)
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

(e) (f)
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

(g) (h)
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

(i) (j)
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

(k) (l)
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

(m) (n)
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

(o) (p)
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

2. (a) 𝑥 ≥ 4 (b) 𝑥 < 3

(c) 𝑥 > 0 (d) 𝑥 ≤ 5

(e) 𝑥 ≥ −3 (f) 𝑥 < −1

(g) 𝑥 > −1 (h) 𝑥 ≤ 0

(i) 1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 5 (j) 2 < 𝑥 < 4

(k) −1 < 𝑥 < 3 (l) −2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 5

(m) 2 < 𝑥 ≤ 6 (n) 1 ≤ 𝑥 < 3

(o) −4 ≤ 𝑥 < 3 (p) −3 < 𝑥 ≤ 0