By M. Bourne
This chapter explains the properties of inequalities and then goes on to show how to solve linear and non-linear inequalities. Finally, we see how to solve inequalities that involve absolute values.
Why study inequalities?
Inequalities are very common in daily life. For example:
- Thermostats in cars cause a valve to open when the engine gets hot (say more than `95°"C"`), allowing water to circulate and cool the engine down. We can express this condition using an inequality: `T > 95°"C"`. If the engine is getting too cool (say `T < 85°"C"`), the thermostat closes again, reducing the water circulation.
- A voltage regulator in a TV will typically accept a voltage range from 110V to 240V. We could write the range for the voltage V as `110 ≤ V ≤ 240`.
- Obesity is usually defined in terms of the Body Mass Index (BMI).
- `"BMI" < 18.5` is underweight
- `18.5 < "BMI" < 24.9` is normal weight
- `25.0 < "BMI" < 29.9` is overweight
- `30.0 < "BMI" < 39.9` is obese
- `"BMI" > 40.0` is severely (or morbidly) obese
[The BMI is the mass of the person in kg divided by the square of the person's height in m.]
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In this Chapter
- 1. Properties of Inequalities - the difference between "`<`", "`>`", "`≤`" , etc.
- 2. Solving Linear Inequalities - problems like: `3 - 2x ≥ 15`
- 3. Solving Non-Linear Inequalties - more advanced examples
- 4. Inequalities Involving Absolute Values - with examples
Let's first learn some of the Properties of Inequalities ».