Inequalities

x < 4 means that x is less than 4; so, for example 3, 2, 1, 0, -1, …

x ≤ 4 means that x is less than or equal to 4,
so, for example x could be 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, -1 ....

x > 4 means that x is greater than 4, so, for example 5, 6, 7, ...

x ≥4 means that x is greater than or equal to 4,
so, for example x could be 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, ....

These can be put together:

2<x ≤5

This mean that x is less than or equal to 5 but greater than 2. So the whole number
or integer solutions to this would be: 3, 4 and 5.

Now try these

Find the integer solutions for the following inequalities

1. 2<x ≤6 6. -2 ≤ x ≤ 5
2. 2 ≤x ≤ 6 7. 7 ≤ x ≤ 8
3. 2 ≤x<6 8. -1 < x ≤ 0
4. 0<x ≤1 9. -3 ≤ x < -1
5. -2 < x ≤ 4 10. –4 ≤ x ≤ -1

We can sketch inequalities on a number line:

Example
(a) (b)

This represents x < 4; the circle on the 4 is This represents –4 ≤ x <3. the circle
not filled in as the inequality does not -4 is filled in as it includes –4; but the
include 4 circle on 3 is not as this is not
included

Now try these

Write down the inequalities shown on the number line
We can also sketch inequalities on a graph:

For example
(a) x ≥ 4 (b) x > 4
Draw x = 4 and then decide which region is correct:
(a) (b)

f(x) f(x)
5 5
4 4
x≥ 4 x>4
3 3
2 2
1 1
x x
-1 1 2 3 4 5 -1 1 2 3 4 5
-1 -1
-2 -2

The line shows x =4.

To the left of the line is the region x ≤ 4.
To the right is the region x ≥ 4.

If the region includes the points on the line – then the line is drawn in full as on (a) if
not the line is dotted as on (b).

1. On the graphs draw the following:

 f(x) f(x)
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
x x
-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4
-1 -1
-2 -2
-3 -3
-4 -4

(a) the line x = 3 and shade the region x ≤ 3 (b) the line y = 2 and shade the
region y ≤ 2

f(x) f(x)
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
x x
-4 -3 -2 -1
-1 1 2 3 4 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4
-1
-2 -2
-3 -3
-4 -4

(c) the line y = -1 and shade the region y > -1 (d) the line x = -3 and shade the
region x < -3

2. Draw the following:

f(x) f(x)
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
x x
-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4
-1 -1
-2 -2
-3 -3
-4 -4
.. ..
(a) the lines y = 1 and y = 2 (b) the lines x = 3 and x = 2
then shade the region 1 ≤ y ≤ 2 then shade the region 2 ≤ x ≤ 3

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