Copyright

Copyright
© 2011
© 2011
Pearson
Pearson
Education,
Education,
Inc. Publishing
Inc. Publishing
as Prentice
as Prentice
Hall Hall
 Chapter 4

Solving Inequalities, and

Absolute Value
Equations and
Inequalities
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 4.1

Linear Inequalities and

Problem Solving
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 Linear Inequality in One Variable
A linear inequality in one variable is an inequality that
can be written in the form
ax + b < c
where a, b, and c are real numbers and a  0.
(The < symbol can also be replaced by > or  or .)

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 A solution of an inequality is a value of the
variable that makes the inequality a true
statement.

The solution set of an inequality is the set of all

solutions.

The inequality x > 2 has a solution set of

{x | x > 2}, read as

The set of all numbers x such that x is greater than 2

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 Example
Graph each on a number line.
a. x ≥ 3 b. x < –3 c. 0.5 < x ≤ 4

Solution
a. x ≥ 3

b. x < –3

c. 0.5 < x ≤ 4

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 Addition Property of Inequality
If a, b, and c are real numbers, then
a < b and a + c < b + c
are equivalent inequalities.

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 Example
Solve: x – 4 < 9. Graph the solutions.
Solution
x–4<9
x–4+4<9+4 Add 4 to both sides

x < 13 Simplify

The solutions are all numbers less than 13, or x < 13.
The graph of the solutions are

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 Multiplication Property of Inequality
If a, b, and c are real numbers and c is positive, then
a < b and ac < bc
are equivalent inequalities.

If a, b, and c are real numbers and c is negative, then

a < b and ac > bc
are equivalent inequalities.

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 Example
Solve and graph the solution: 3x  9.
Solution
3x  9
The inequality symbol is
3 x 9 reversed.

3 3

x3

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 Example
Solve and graph the solution: 2.6 x  10.4.
Solution
2.6 x  10.4
The inequality symbol is
2.6x 10.4 reversed since we divided
 by a negative number.
2.6 2.6

x  4

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 Solving a Linear Inequality in One Variable
1) Clear the inequality of fractions by multiplying both
sides of the inequality by the least common denominator
(LCD) of all fractions in the inequality.
2) Remove grouping symbols such as parentheses by using
the distributive property.
3) Simplify each side of the inequality by combining like
terms.
4) Write the inequality with variable terms on one side and
numbers on the other side by using the addition property
of inequality.
5) Get the variable alone by using the multiplication
property of inequality.

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 Example
Solve: 4x + 5 ≥ 3x – 7. Graph the solutions.
Solution
4x + 5 ≥ 3x – 7
4x + 5 – 3x ≥ 3x – 3x – 7 Subtract 3x from both sides.

x + 5 ≥ –7 Combine like terms.

x + 5 – 5 ≥ –7 – 5 Subtract 5 from both sides.

x ≥ –12 Simplify.

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 Example
Solve: 3x + 9  5(x – 1).
Solution
3x + 9  5(x – 1)
3x + 9  5x – 5 Apply the distributive property.

3x – 3x + 9  5x – 3x – 5 Subtract 3x from both sides.

9  2x – 5 Simplify both sides.

9 + 5  2x – 5 + 5 Add 5 to both sides.

14  2x Simplify both sides.

7x Divide both sides by 2.

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 Example
Solve: 7(x – 2) + x > – 4(5 – x) – 12
Solution
7(x – 2) + x > – 4(5 – x) – 12
7x – 14 + x > – 20 + 4x – 12 Use distributive property.
8x – 14 > 4x – 32 Simplify both sides.
8x – 4x – 14 > 4x – 4x – 32 Subtract 4x from both sides.
4x – 14 > –32 Simplify both sides.
4x – 14 + 14 > –32 + 14 Add 14 to both sides.
4x > –18 Simplify both sides.
9
x Divide both sides by 4 and
2 simplify.

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 Example
Solve: 3(x + 4) > 3x + 5.
Solution
3(x + 4) > 3x + 5
3x + 12 > 3x + 5 Distribute on the left side.
3x + 12 – 3x > 3x + 5 – 3x Subtract 3x from both sides.
12 > 5 Simplify.

12 > 5 is a true statement for all values of x, so this

inequality and the original inequality are true for
all numbers. All real numbers are solutions.

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 Example
A salesperson earns $800 per month plus a commission
of 25% of sales. Find the minimum amount of sales
needed to receive a total income of at least $1800 per
month.

continued
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 Example
A salesperson earns $800 per month plus a commission
of 25% of sales. Find the minimum amount of sales
needed to receive a total income of at least $1800 per
month.
Solution
1. UNDERSTAND. Read and reread the problem.
Let x = amount of sales.

2. TRANSLATE
Income needs to be greater than or equal to
$1800. Income consists of $800 plus commission
(25% of sales).
continued
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 A salesperson earns $800 per month plus a commission of 25% of sales. Find the
minimum amount of sales needed to receive a total income of at least $1800 per month.

In words: 800 + commission ≥ 1800

25% of sales

Translate: 800 + 0.25x ≥ 1800

3. SOLVE
800  0.25x  1800

800  0.25x  800  1800  800

0.25x  1000
0.25 x 1000

0.25 0.25
x  4000 continued
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 A salesperson earns $800 per month plus a commission of 25% of sales. Find the
minimum amount of sales needed to receive a total income of at least $1800 per month.

4. INTERPRET
Check: The income for sales of $4000 is
800 + 0.25(4000), or 1800.
Thus, if sales are greater than or equal to $4000,
income is greater than or equal to $1800.

State: The minimum amount of sales needed for

the salesperson to earn at least $1800 per month
is $4000 per month.

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