8 Inequalities and

Linear Programming

Quick Check
A Solving Linear Inequalities in One Unknown
1. Basic Properties of Linear Inequalities
Inequalities involve 4 kinds of relational operators:

Symbols Related words Symbols Related words

> Greater than, < Smaller than,

more than less than

 Greater than or equal to,  Smaller than or equal to,

more than or equal to, less than or equal to,
not less than, not greater than,
not smaller than, not more than,
at least at most

Let a, b and c be any real numbers.

a. Transitive property
If a < b and b < c, then a < c.
b. Addition property
If a < b, then a + c < b + c.
Reminder
c. Multiplication property
i. If a < b and c > 0, then ac < bc. The inequality sign is reversed when an inequality
is multiplied or divided by a negative number on
ii. If a < b and c < 0, then ac > bc. both sides.
d. Product property
i. If ab < 0, then either (a > 0 and b < 0) or (a < 0 and b > 0).
ii. If ab > 0, then either (a > 0 and b > 0) or (a < 0 and b < 0).

2. Graphical Representation of Inequalities

The solution of an inequality can be represented on a number line.

x Reminder
a
‘ ’ indicates that the end point is excluded in the solution.
‘•’ indicates that the end point is included in the solution.
x
b

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Mathematics Exam Elite – Multiple-choice Questions (Compulsory Part)

3. Solving Linear Inequalities in One Unknown

An inequality in the form like ax + b > c, where a, b and c are constants and a ≠ 0, can be solved
using the properties of inequalities.
Example

1 Solve the inequality 5x – 3 > 7. 2 Solve the inequality 2x + 8  5x – 3.

Solution Solution

5x – 3 > 7 2x + 8  5x – 3
5x > 7 + 3 (addition property) 2x – 5x  –3 – 8 (addition property)
5 x 10
> (multiplication property) –3x  –11
5 5 –3 x –11
x >2  (multiplication property)
–3 –3
11
x  Reminder
x 3
0 2 The inequality sign
x is reversed.
0 11
3

4. Solving Compound Inequalities in One Unknown

Two or more linear inequalities can be connected by the word ‘and‘ or the word ‘or’ to form a set
of compound inequalities.
a. The solution of the compound inequalities connected by ‘and’ is the common solution of
the individual inequalities. In graphical representation, it is the overlapping region of the
solutions of all inequalities in the system.
b. The solution of the compound inequalities connected by ‘or’ consists of the solutions of the
individual inequalities. In graphical representation, it includes all the regions of the solutions
of all inequalities in the system.

Example

1 Solve the compound inequalities 2 Solve the compound inequalities

2x – 3 > 5 4x – 5 > 7 or 3 – 2x < 5.
.
3x + 2  20 Solution
Solution 4x – 5 > 7 or 3 – 2x < 5
2x – 3 > 5 and 3x + 2  20 4x > 12 or 3 – 5 < 2x
2x > 8 and 3  18 x>3 or –2 < 2x
x > 4 and x6 x>3 or x > –1

x x
0 4 6 –1 0 3

∴ The solution is 4 < x  6. ∴ The solution is x > –1.

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 8 Inequalities and Linear Programming

B Solving Quadratic Inequalities in One Unknown

An inequality in the form like ax2 + bx + c > 0, where a, b and c are constants and a ≠ 0, is called a
quadratic inequality in one unknown x.
By drawing the graph of y = ax2 + bx + c, the solution can be found.
y

y = ax 2 + bx + c

x
O

y>0
–2 y<0

a. Solving quadratic inequality by graphical method

The graph of y = ax2 + bx + c cuts the x-axis at two distinct points (α , 0) and (β , 0).
Case I: ax2 + bx + c > 0 (i.e. y > 0)
From the graph, all the points above x-axis have positive y-coordinates and their
x-coordinates are either x < α or x > β .
So, the solution is x < α or x > β .
Case II: ax2 + bx + c < 0 (i.e. y < 0)
From the graph, all the points below x-axis have negative y-coordinates and their
x-coordinates fall into the range α < x < β .
So, the solution is α < x < β .

NF b. Solving quadratic inequality by algebraic method

Suppose ax2 + bx + c = a(x – α )(x – β ) and α < β , where α and β are real numbers.
Case I: (x – α )(x – β ) > 0
The solution is x < α or x > β .
Case II: (x – α )(x – β ) < 0
The solution is α < x < β .

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Mathematics Exam Elite – Multiple-choice Questions (Compulsory Part)

Example

Solve the inequality 2x2 – 3x – 5  0.

Solution

Method 1 Method 2
By sketching the quadratic graph: NF By algebraic method:
2
y = 2x – 3x – 5 2x2 – 3x – 5  0
Find the x-intercepts: (2x – 5)(x + 1)  0

( 25)  0
2
i.e. solve 2x – 3x – 5 = 0
2 [ x – (–1)] x –
(x + 1)(2x – 5) = 0
5
5 ∴ x  –1 or x 
The solution are and –1. 2
2
5
Hence, the x-intercepts are and –1.
2
Find the y-intercept:
y-intercept = 2(0)2 – 3(0) – 5 = –5
y
y = 2x2 – 3x − 5

x
O
–1 5
2

–5

From the graph, the solution is

5
x  –1 or x  .
2

NF C Solving Linear Inequalities in Two Unknowns

A linear inequality in two unknowns is in the form like Ax + By + C > 0, where A, B and C are
constants, A and B are not both zero.
The solution of Ax + By + C > 0 is one of the two half-planes divided by the line Ax + By + C = 0
in the x-y coordinate plane. The required half-plane can be determined by a test point (usually
the origin (0, 0) or (1, 0), which has simple x and y values). The solution is always presented
graphically.
Example

Solve the inequality 4x – 3y  12.

Solution
We set up a table to draw the line 4x – 3y = 12.
x 0 3 –3
y –4 0 –8

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 8 Inequalities and Linear Programming

12
y
Reminder

y=
–3
1. Usually, a pair of arrows is used to

4x
x indicate the required half-plane.
–3 O 3
2. A solid line is used if the operator in
the inequality is ‘’ or ‘’.
–4
It means the x-y pairs on the line are
the solutions of the inequality.
–8 3. A dotted line is used if the operator
in the inequality is ‘>’ or ‘<’.
By using the test point (0, 0). It means the x-y pairs on the line are
Putting x = 0 and y = 0 into L.H.S. of the inequality, NOT the solutions of the inequality.
L.H.S. = 0
Since 0 < 12, the half-plane containing the point (0, 0) is the solution.

NF
D Linear Programming
The feasible solution of a linear programming problem is the common solution of all the individual
inequalities defined by the constraints in the problem.
For a linear function f (x, y) = Ax + By + C, its maximum and minimum values are attained at the
vertices of the region of the feasible solution. They can be found by evaluating the values of f (x, y)
at these vertices.