Chapter 11

Inequalities

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS

☞ Inequalities and Modulus ☞ Absolute Value

☞ Symbols and Notations ☞ Properties of Modulus

IneQUALiTies AnD MODULUs Certain properties and useful results pertaining to ine-
qualities are given below. A thorough understanding of
If ‘a’ is any real number, then ‘a’ is either positive or neg-
these properties results is very essential for being able to
ative or zero. When ‘a’ is positive, we write a > 0, which
solve the problems pertaining to inequalities.
is read ‘a is greater than zero’. When ‘a’ is negative, we
[In the following list of properties and results, numbers like
write a < 0, which is read ‘a is less than zero’. If ‘a’ is zero,
a, b, c, d, etc. are real numbers.]
we write a = 0 and in this case, ‘a’ is neither positive nor
negative. 1. For any two real numbers a and b, either a > b or a <
b or a = b.
Symbols and Notations 2. If a > b, then b < a.
‘>’ means ‘greater than’ 3. If a <| b, then a ≥ b and if a > b, then a ≤ b.
‘<’ means ‘less than’ 4. If a > b and b > c, then a > c.
‘≥’ means ‘greater than or equal to’ 5. If a < b and b < c, then a < c.
‘≤’ means ‘less than or equal to’ 6. If a > b, then a ± c > b ± c.
For any two non-zero real numbers a and b, 7. If a > b and c > 0, then ac > bc.
8. If a < b and c > 0, then ac < bc.
1. a is said to be greater than b when a – b is positive. 9. If a > b and c < 0, then ac < bc.
2. a is said to be less than b when a – b is negative.
10. If a < b and c < 0, then ac > bc.
These two statements are written as 11. If a > b and c > d, then a + c > b + d.
1. a > b when a – b > 0 and 12. If a < b and c < d, then a + c < b + d.
2. a < b when a – b < 0. 13. Let A, G and H be the Arithmetic mean, Geometric
mean and Harmonic mean of n positive real numbers.
For example, Then A ≥ G ≥ H, the equality occurring only when the
3 is greater than 2 because 3 – 2 = 1 and 1 is greater than numbers are all equal.
zero. –3 is less than –2 because –3 – (–2) = –1 and –1 is less
than zero.

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14. If the sum of two positive quantities is given, their 4x + 18 < 54 ⇒ x < 9 (2)
product is the greatest when they are equal; if the The common inequality satisfying (1) and (2) is x < 5 or
product of two positive quantities is given, their sum (–∞, 5) in the interval notation.
is the least when they are equal.
15. If a > b and c > d, then we cannot say anything Example 3
conclusively about the relationship between (a – b)
and (c – d); depending on the values of a, b, c, and d, Which of the numbers 5051 and 5150 is greater?
it is possible to have Solution
(a – b) > (c – d), (a – b) Let a = 5051 and b = 5150.
= (c – d) or (a – b) < (c – d).
50 50
b 5150 ⎛ 51 ⎞ ⎛ 1⎞ ⎛ 1⎞ ⎛ 1⎞
Absolute Value = =⎜ ⎟ ⎜⎝ ⎟⎠ = ⎜⎝1 + ⎟⎠ ⎜⎝ ⎟⎠
a 5051 ⎝ 50 ⎠ 50 50 50 
(written as |x| and read as ‘modulus of x’)
x
For any real number x, the absolute value is defined as ⎛ 1⎞
follows: ⎜⎝1 + ⎟⎠ where x > 0 always lies between 2 and 2.8.
x
⎧ x, if x ≥ 0 and b
x =⎨ \ lies between
⎩ − x, if x < 0 a
2 2.8
= 0.04 and = 0.056
Properties of Modulus 50 50
For any real number x and y, b
\ < 1
1. x = 0 ⇔ |x| = 0 a
2. |x| ≥ 0 and –|x| ≤ 0 \ a > b.
3. |x + y| ≤ |x| + |y|
4. ||x| – |y || ≤ |x – y| Example 4
5. –|x| ≤ x ≤ |x| Solve for x if 4x2 – 21x + 20 > 0
6. |x · y| = |x| · |y| Solution
x x
7. = ; ( y ≠ 0) 4x2 – 21x + 20 > 0 ⇒ (4x – 5) (x – 4) > 0
y y
Both factors are positive (i.e. the smaller is positive) or both
8. |x|2 = x2 5
are negative (i.e. the greater is negative), i.e. x > 4 or x <
In inequalities, the variables generally take a range of val- 4
ues unlike in the case of equations where the variables in or it can be expressed in the interval notation as (4, ∞) ∪
general, take one value or a discrete set of values. (In some ⎛ 5⎞
⎜⎝ −∞, ⎟⎠
specific cases, the variables may take only one value.) 4

Solved Examples Example 5

x 2 + 5 x − 24
Example 1 Solve for x, if <0
2 x 2 − 5x − 3
If 13x – 19 ≤ 4x + 26, find the range of x.
Solution
Solution
x2 + 5x – 24 = (x + 8) (x – 3)
13x – 4x ≤ 26 + 19
Similarly 2x2 – 5x – 3 = (2x + 1) (x – 3)
x ≤ 5.
x 2 + 5 x − 24
Given: <0
(–∞, 5] in the interval notation. 2 x 2 − 5x − 3 
Example 2 ⇒
( x + 8) ( x − 3) < 0
Solve the following inequalities:
(2 x + 1) ( x − 3)
x +8
5x + 21 < 46 and 4x + 18 < 54. ⇒ < 0
2x +1
Solution ( x + 8) (2 x + 1) < 0
5x + 21 < 46 ⇒ x < 5 (1) (2 x + 1)2 

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⎛ 1⎞ \ The given inequality will never satisfy.

⇒ (x + 8) ⎜ x + ⎟ < 0 The solution is null set.
⎝ 2⎠
1
\ –8 < x < – . Example 8
2
Solve for x: |2x – 3| = 5
Example 6 Solution
Solve the inequality |3x + 6| > –12. 2x – 3 = 5 or 2x – 3 = –5
Solution (If | y| = a, y = ± a) ⇒ x = 4 or x = –1.
The modulus of any number is always ­non-negative.
\ |3x + 6| ≥ 0. Example 9
Find the maximum value of
\ The given inequality is always satisfied.
g(x) = 16 – |–x – 6|; x ∈ R.
\ –∞ < x < ∞
Solution
Example 7 g(x) is maximum when |–x – 6| is minimum.
Solve the inequality |2x + 4| < –6. The minimum value of the modulus of all numbers is 0.
Solution \ The maximum value of g(x) = 16 – 0 = 16.

The modulus of any number is always non- ­negative.

\ |2x + 4| ≥ 0

Exercises
Direction for questions 1 to 25: Select the correct alterna- 6. Which of the following is true?
tive from the given choices. x x
1. If a < b and c < 0, then which of the following is true? (A) x+ y ≤ x + y (B) = ,y ≠ 0
y y
a b
(A) ac < bc (B) < (C) x− y ≥ x − y (D) All the above
c c
(C) ac > bc (D) None of these 7. If 6x + 8 > 7x – 9 and 4x – 7 < 6x – 3, then the values
2. If p and q are two real numbers, then which of the of x is
­following statements is always true? (A) (– 17, 2) (B) (2, 17)
p (C) (– 2, 17) (D) (– ∞, 17)
(A) <1⇒p<q
q 8. The solution set of the inequality x − 5 < 9 is
p
(B) p > 0, q > 0 and > 1 ⇒ p > q (A) (0, 14) (B) (–4, 14) (C) (–4, 0) (D) (9, 14)
p q
(C) >1⇒p>q 9. The number of integral values of x that do not satisfy
q x+5
(D) All the above the inequation ≥ 0 is
x−2
3. If 5x – 8 < 2x + 9 and 4x + 7 > 7x – 8, then the range of (A) 7 (B) 5 (C) 6 (D) 4
the values of x that satisfies the inequalities is
10. If (x + 5) (x + 9) (x + 3) < 0, then the solution set for
2
(A) (5, ∞) (B) (–∞, 5)
the inequality is
⎛ 17 ⎞
(D) ⎛⎜ −∞, ⎞⎟
17 (A) (–9, – 3) (B) (–9, –5)
(C) ⎜ 5, ⎟
⎝ 3⎠ ⎝ 3⎠ (C) (– 3, ∞) (D) (–9, ∞)
4. Solve for real values of x; 5x – 3x – 2 ≥ 0.
2
11. Find the range of the real values of x satisfying 8 – 3x ≤ 5
⎡ −2 ⎤ ⎛ −2 ⎞ and 4x + 5 ≤ –7.
(A) ⎢ ,1⎥ (B) R – ⎜ ,1⎟
⎣5 ⎦ ⎝ 5 ⎠ (A) [–3, 1] (B) (– ∞, -3] ∪ [1, ∞)
(C) [1, ∞) (D) R – (0, 1) (C) (–3, 1) (D) f
2
5. If x – 9x – 36 is negative, then find the range of x. 12. Which of the following is true?
(A) (-3, 12) (B) [-3, 12] (A) 3031 < 3130 (B) 7169 > 7070
(C) (-12, 3) (D) [-12, 3] (C) (155) < (150)
29 30 (D) Both (B) and (C)

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21 20. The range of x for which 2x2 – 5x – 8 ≤ |2x2 + x| is

13. At what value of x is –|x – 3| + maximum?
2 ⎡ 4 ⎞ ⎛ 4 ⎞
21 (A) ⎢ − , ∞⎟ (B) ⎜ − , −1⎟
(A) –3 (B) (C) 0 (D) 3 ⎣ 3 ⎠ ⎝ 3 ⎠
2
(C) [–1, ∞) (D) [–1, 2]
14. Find the range of all real values of x if |3x + 5| < 5x – 11.
21. For how many integral values of x, is the inequation
(A) (8, ∞) (B) (– ∞, –5/3) ∪ (8, ∞)
x −5
(C) (–5/3, 8) (D) (–5/3, ∞) > 4 satisfied?
x+7
15. If ac = bd = 2, then the minimum value of a2 + b2 + (A) 5 (B) 4 (C) 2 (D) 3
c2 + d2 is
(A) 4 (B) 6 (C) 8 (D) 16 22. If 1 ≤ x ≤ 3 and 2 ≤ y ≤ 5, then the minimum value of
x+ y
16. If x, y > 0 and x + y = 3 then is
y
(A) xy ≤ 0.72 (B) xy ≤ 1.8
3 1 6 5
(C) xy ≤ 2.25 (D) xy ≤ 1.25 (A) (B) (C) (D)
5 5 5 6
17. Find the complete range of values of x that satisfies
|x – 16| > x2 – 7x + 24. 23. If b ≥ 5 and x = a b, which of the following is true?
⎛ 3 5⎞ (A) a – xb > 0 (B) a + xb < 0
(A) (0, 2) (B) ⎜ , ⎟
⎝ 2 2⎠ (C) a + xb > 0 (D) a – xb ≤ 0
(C) (1, 3) (D) (2, 4) 24. Find the number of solutions of the equation
18. For which of the following range of values of x is x2 + x x − x − 2 = 6.
less than x3 + 1? (A) 2 (B) 1 (C) 3 (D) 4
(A) (–∞, –1) (B) (1, ∞) 25. If x, y and z are positive real numbers, then the mini-
(C) (–1, 1) ∪ (1, ∞) (D) [–1, 1] mum value of
19. If x, y, z are positive, then the value of x 2 y + y 2 z + z 2 x + xy 2 + yz 2 + zx 2
( 4 x 2 + x + 4) (5 y 2 + y + 5) (7 z 2 + z + 7) is
A= can be xyz
xyz
(A) 6 (B) 9 (C) 12 (D) 14
(A) 400 (B) 500 (C) 1000 (D) 1500

Answer Keys
1. C 2. B 3. B 4. B 5. A 6. D 7. C 8. B 9. A 10. B
11. D 12. C 13. D 14. A 15. C 16. C 17. D 18. C 19. D 20. A
21. D 22. C 23. D 24. B 25. A

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