15

PTER
CHA

INEQUALITIES

INEQUALITY i.e. a>b

⇒ a+5>b+5
Two real numbers, two algebraic expressions or an algebraic
and also a–4>b–4
expression and a real number related by the symbol >, <, ≥ or ≤
form an inequality. (iii) Sign of inequality does not change when both sides of an
‘>’ means ‘greater than’. Hence a > b read as a is greater than b. inequality can be multiplied (or divided) by the same positive
‘<’ means ‘less than’. Hence a < b read as a is less than b. number. But when both sides are multiplied or divided by a
‘≥’ means ‘greater than or equal to’. Hence a ≥ b is read as a negative number, then the sign of inequality is reversed.
is greater than or equal to b. i.e. a≤b
‘≤’ means ‘less than or equal to’. Hence a ≤ b is read as a is ⇒ 3a ≤ 3b
less than or equal to b. a b
and also ≤ .
5 5
TYPES OF INEQUALITIES But – 3a ≥ – 3b
1. Numerical Inequalities a b
Inequalities which does not contain any variable are called and also ≥
−5 −5
numerical, inequalities.
2. Literal Inequalities (iv) If a > b and b > c, then a > c. Since 5 > 4 and 4 > 2, therefore
Inequalities which does not contain any variable are called 5 > 2.
literal inequalities. For examples, 8 > 6, – 7 < 0, etc. 1 1
(v) If a > b > 0 then <
3. An inequality may contain more than one variable. For a b
examples 2xy < 8, x + 3y ≥ 20, etc. 1 1
Since 6 > 2 > 0, therefore < .
An inequality in one variable may be linear, quadratic 6 2
or cubic etc. For examples 2x + 5 < 10, x2 + 4x + 3 ≥ 0, (vi) If a > b > 0 and n > 0 then an > bn and (a)1/n > (b)1/n
– x3 + 2x2 – 4 ≤ 8, etc. Since 3 > 2 > 0 and 4 > 0, therefore (3)4 > (2)4 and also
4. Strict Inequalities (3)1/4 > (2)1/4
Inequalities involving the symbol ‘>’ or ‘<’ are called strict
inequalities. (vii) If x > y > 0 and a > 1, then a x > a y
5. Slack Inequalities Since 5 > 3 > 0 and 6 > 1, therefore (6)5 > (6)3
Inequalities involving the symbol ‘≥’ or ‘≤’ are called slack (viii) If x > y > 0 and 0 < a < 1 then a x < a y
inequalities. 6 4
2  2  2
a ≥ b means a > b or a = b Since 6 > 4 > 0 and 0 < < 1, therefore   <   .
3  3  3
a ≤ b means a < b or a = b
Note that simultaneous relation between any three different IMPORTANT RESULTS
quantities a, b and c will be either a < b < c, a < b ≤ c, (i) Square of any real number is always equal or greater than
a ≤ b < c or a ≤ b ≤ c 0. i.e. if a is a real number, then a2 ≥ 0.
SOME PROPERTIES OF INEQUALITY (ii) For any real number a,
|a|≥0
(i) If a > b, then evidently b < a i.e. if the sides of an equality (iii) If a is a positive real number and | x | ≤ a, then
be transposed, the sign of equality must be reversed.    – a ≤ x ≤ a
(ii) Sign of inequality does not change when equal numbers (iv) If a is a positive real number and | x | ≥ a, then
added to (or subtracted from) both sides of an inequality.   x ≤ – a or x ≥ a
246  l  Inequalities

(v) | a + b | ≤ | a | + | b |  4 
In general This solution can also be written as x ∈  − , ∞  .
 3 
| a1 + a2 + a3 + ... + an | ≤ | a1 | + | a2 | + | a3 | + ... + | an |
Illustration 3:  Solve the following inequations:
(vi) | a – b | ≥ | a | – | b | 2x + 4
≥5
(vii) a2 + b2 ≥ 2ab x −1
Solution: We have,
NOTATION AND RANGES 2x + 4
If a, b, c, d are four numbers such that a < b < c < d, then ≥5
x −1
(i) x ∈ (a, b) means a < x < b
2x + 4
(ii) x ∈ [a, b] means a ≤ x ≤ b ⇒ −5≥ 0
(iii) x ∈ [a, b) means a ≤ x < b x −1
(iv) x ∈ (a, b] means a < x ≤ b x−3
⇒ ≤0 [Dividing both sides by 3]
(v) x ∈ (a, b) ∪ (c, d) means a < x < b or c < x < d x −1
⇒ 1 < x ≤ 3
SOLUTIONS OF LINEAR INEQUALITIES IN ⇒ x ∈ (1, 3]
ONE UNKNOWN Hence, the solution set of the given inequation is (1,3].
Inequalities of the form ax + b > 0, ax + b ≥ 0, ax + b < 0 and ax 2 − 3x
Illustration 4:  Solve: −5 ≤ ≤9.
+ b ≤ 0 are called linear inequalities. 4
(i) ax + b > 0 Solution:  We have,
b 2 − 3x
⇒ x > − , if a > 0 −5 ≤ ≤9
a 4
b 22 −34
and x < − , if a < 0 ⇒ ≥x≥
a 3 3
(ii) ax + b ≥ 0 −34 22
⇒ ≤x≤
b 3 3
⇒ x ≥ − , if a > 0
a ⇒ x ∈ [–34/3, 22/3]
b Hence, the interval [–34/3, 22/3] is the solution set of the given
and x ≤ − , if a < 0 system of inequations.
a
(iii) ax + b < 0
b
⇒ x < −
, if a > 0 INEQUALITIES CONTAINING A MODULUS
a
(i) • If a > 0, then | x | ≤ a  ⇒ – a ≤ x ≤ a
b • If a > 0, then | x | < a  ⇒ – a < x < a
and x > − , if a < 0
a (ii) • If a > 0, then | x | ≥ a  ⇒  x ≤ – a and x ≥ a
(iv) ax + b ≤ 0 • If a > 0,then | x | > a  ⇒  x < – a and x > a
b • If a < 0, then | x | ≥ a  ⇒  x ≤ a and x ≥ – a
⇒ x ≤ − , if a > 0 • If a < 0, then | x | > a  ⇒  x < a and x > – a
a
b Illustration 5:  Solve | x – 3 | ≥ 4
and x ≥ − , if a < 0
a Solution: | x – 3 | ≥ 4
⇒ (x – 3) ≤ – 4 and (x – 3) ≥ 4
Illustration 1:  Solve 2 (x – 3) + 4 ≥ 4 – x
⇒ x ≤ – 4 + 3 and x ≥ 4 + 3
Solution:  2 (x – 3) + 4 ≥ 4 – x ⇒ x ≤ – 1 and x ≥ 7
⇒ 2x – 6 + 4 ≥ 4 – x  ⇒ 2x + x – 2 ≥ 4 i.e. x ∈ (– ∞, – 1] ∪ [7, ∞)
⇒ 3x ≥ 4 + 2  ⇒ 3x ≥ 6
Illustration 5:  Solve | 5 – 4x | < – 2
6
⇒ x ≥   ⇒  x ≥ 2 Solution: | 5 – 4x | < – 2
3 ⇒ (5 – 4x) < – 2 and (5 – 4x) > 2
This solution can also be written as x ∈ [2, ∞). ⇒ – 4x < – 2 – 5 and – 4x > 2 – 5
Illustration 2:  Solve 3 (x + 4) + 1 < 2 (3x + 1) + 15 ⇒ – 4x < – 7 and – 4x > – 3
Solution: 3 (x + 4) + 1 < 2 (3x + 1) + 15 ⇒ 4 x > 7 and 4x < 3
⇒ 3x + 12 + 1 < 6x + 2 + 15 7 3
⇒ 3x – 6x < 17 – 13 ⇒ x > and x <
4 4
⇒ – 3x < 4
 3  7 
4 4 x ∈  − ∞,  ∪  , ∞ 
i.e.
⇒ x>   ⇒  x > −  4  4 
−3 3
 Inequalities l 247

Practice Exercise
Level - I
1. If 0 < x < 5 and 1 < y < 2, then which of the following is 14 1 3
(c) x < (d) >
true? 7 x 2
(a) x + y < 0 (b) –3 < 2x – 3y < 4
6. x > 2, y > -1 , then which of the following holds good ?
(c) –6 < 2x – 3y < 7 (d) –3 < 3x – y < 2
2. Which of the following is the solution set of | 2x – 3 | < 7 ? (a) xy > -2 (b) xy < -2
(a) {x : – 5 < x < 2} (b) {x : –5 < x < 5} 2
(c) {x : –2 < x < 5} (d) {x : x < – 5 or x > 2} (c) x > – (d) None of these
y
x2 - 4 x < 5 7. If x > 5 and y < – 1, then which of the following statements
3.
is true?
(a) -1 £ x £ 5 (b) 1£ x £ 5 (a) (x + 4y) > 1 (b) x > – 4y
(c) -1 £ x £ 1 (d) -1 < x < 5 (c) – 4x < 5y (d) None of these
4. If 1 £ x £ 3 and 2 £ y £ 4, what is the maximum value of 8. If a and b are negative, and c is positive, which of the
following statements is/are true?
æ xö
ç y ÷? I. a–b<a–c II. if a < b, then
a b
<
è ø
c c
2 1 1
(a) (b) 4 <
3 III.
b c
3
(c) (d) 2 (a) I only (b) II only
2
(c) III only (d) II and III only
1 1 1 1 9. If x + y > 5 and x – y > 3, then which of the following gives
5. The solution set of + < + , when x Î R , is:
4 x 2 3 all possible values of x?
(a) x > 3 (b) x > 4
1 7 12
(a) < (b) x³ (c) x > 5 (d) x < 5
x 12 7

Level- II
3. The shaded portion of figure shows the graph of which of
x2 the following ?
1. If x Î R, and a = , then y
(1 + x 4 )
(a) 0£a£2 (b) 0 £ a £1

1 1 (1,2)
(c) 0£a£ (d) 0£a£
4 2
O
x
y
2. If 6 ³ x ³ –2 and 4 ³ y ³ – 4, find the limits for , where x
x
and y are non-zero integers.

y y 2 y -2 y
(a) ³ 2, £ (b) ³ , £2
x x 3 x 3 x
(a) x (y – 2x) ³ 0 (b) x (y – 2x) £ 0
y -2 y 1 y y æ 1 ö æ 1 ö
(c) ³ , £ (d) ³ – 4, £4 (c) x ç y + x÷ ³ 0 (d) x ç y - x÷ £ 0
x 3 x 4 x x è 2 ø è 2 ø
248 l Inequalities

4. For the real numbers p, q, r, x, y, let p < x < q and p < y < r. 7. The number of solutions of the equation 2x + y = 40 where
Which one of the following is correct? both x and y are positive integers and x £ y
(a) p < x < y < r (b) p < x < q < r (a) 7 (b) 13
(c) p < y < x < q (d) None of these (c) 14 (d) 18
5. Given that -1 £ v £ 1, - 2 £ u £ -0.5 and - 2 £ z £ -0.5 8. If a, b and c are three real numbers, then which of the
following is NOT true?
vz
and w = , then which of the following is necessarily (a) |a+b| £ |a|+ |b|
u
(b) | a - b | £ | a | + | b |
true?
(c) | a -b | £ | a | - |b|
(a) -0.5 £ w £ 2 (b) -4 £ w £ 4
(d) | a - c | £ | a - b | + | b - c |
(c) -4 £ w £ 2 (d) -2 £ w £ –0.5
9. x and y are real numbers satisfying the conditions 2 < x < 3
6. If | b | ³ 1 and x = – | a | b, then which one of the following
and – 8 < y < – 7. Which of the following expressions will
is necessarily true?
have the least value?
(a) a – xb < 0 (b) a – xb ³ 0 (a) x2y (b) xy2
(c) a – xb > 0 (d) a – xb £ 0 (c) 5xy (d) None of these