Linear Inequalities and

Absolute Value
Inequalities
Section P-9

Objectives
Use

interval notation.
Find intersections & unions of intervals.
Solve linear inequalities.
Recognize inequalities with no solution or all
numbers as solutions.
Solve compound inequalities.
Solve absolute value inequalities.

Interval Notation
Parentheses

indicate endpoints that are not

included in an interval.
Square brackets indicate endpoints that are
included in an interval.

Interval Notation
Interval notation: used to represent solution sets
open interval: use parenthesis (
); use with <
or >; does not include endpoint
closed interval: use brackets [
]; use with < or
> ; includes endpoint
Note: An interval can be half-open.

Examples
Write

in interval notation and graph.

a) x < -1
b) x > -3
c) -4 < x < 2

Linear Inequalities
For

equalities, you are finding specific values

that will make your expression EQUAL
something.
For inequalities, you are looking for values that
will make your expression LESS THAN (or equal
to), or MORE THAN (or equal to) something.
In general, your solution set will involve an
interval of values that will make the expression
true, not just specific points.

Properties of Inequalities
are the same as with equations
Use the GOLDEN RULE.
Note:

Always write an inequality

with the variable on the left.
Especially before graphing.

EXAMPLES

See Example 4, page 114.

Solve

and graph the solution set on a number

line:
3x + 1 > 7x - 15

Compound Inequalities
We

can write
-3 < 2x + 1 and 2x + 1 < 3
without the word and as a compound
inequality.
-3 < 2x + 1 < 3
To solve, perform the same operations on all
three parts of the inequality and isolate the
variable in the middle.

See Example 5, page 114-115.

Solve

and graph the solution set on a number

line:
1 < 2x + 3< 11

What if you have more

than one inequality?
If

two inequalities are joined by the word AND,

you are looking for values that will make BOTH
true at the same time. (the INTERSECTION of the
2 sets)

If

two inequalities are joined by the word OR,

you are looking for values that will make one
inequality OR the other true (not necessarily
both), therefore it is the UNION of the 2 sets.

EXAMPLE

Absolute Value Review

Absolute

value means the distance of x

from zero on a number line.
Symbol for absolute value is | |.
Evaluate: |3| =
|-5| =
-

|17|

-| -6 | =

What IS an
absolute value inequality?
IF

the absolute value expression is LESS THAN

a value, youre looking for values that are
WITHIN that distance (intersection of the 2
inequalities).
IF the absolute value expression is MORE THAN
a value, youre looking for values that are getting
further away in both directions (union of the 2
inequalities).

See Example 6, pg. 115.

To

solve |ax+b|<k, set up & solve

NIX:
ax+b < k and ax+b > -k
BOOK: -k < ax+b < k
Solve

|x - 2| < 5.

 If,

however, the absolute value was LESS than

a number (think of this as a distance problem),
youre getting closer to your value and staying
WITHIN a certain range. Therefore, this is an
intersection problem (AND).
Example:

See Example 7, pg. 116.

To

solve |ax+b|>k, set up & solve

ax+b < -k or ax+b > k.

Solve

-3|5x 2 | + 20 > -19.

 If

the absolute value is greater than a

number, youre considering getting further
away in both directions, therefore an OR. (get
further away left OR right)

Example:

EXAMPLES

Dont leave common sense at the door!

Remember

to use logic!
Can an absolute value ever be less than or
equal to a negative value?? NO! (therefore if
such an inequality were presented, the
solution would be the empty set)
Can an absolute value ever be more than or
equal to a negative value?? YES! ALWAYS!
(therefore if such an inequality were given,
the solution would be all real numbers)