4.07 One-step inequalities

Lesson

Working with inequalities

When we manipulate with equations, we can apply the same operation to both sides and the equation remains true. Consider the following equation:

 $x+7$x+7 $=$= $12$12

We can subtract $7$7 from both sides of the equation in order to find the value of $x$x. This is because both sides of the equation are identical, so what we do to one side, we should do to the other side.

 $x+7$x+7 $=$= $12$12 (rewriting the equation) $x+7-7$x+7−7 $=$= $12-7$12−7 (subtracting $7$7 from both sides) $x$x $=$= $5$5 (simplifying both sides)

When working with inequalities, this is not necessarily always the case.

Exploration

Consider the inequality $9<15$9<15.

If we add or subtract both sides by any number, say $3$3, we can see that the resulting inequality remains true.

 Adding $3$3 to $9$9 and $15$15. $9+3<15+3$9+3<15+3 $12<18$12<18
 Subtracting $3$3 from $9$9 and $15$15. $9-3<15-3$9−3<15−3 $6<12$6<12

Note that adding a negative would have the same effect as subtracting, so we can also add and subtract negative numbers without changing the inequality.

What happens if we multiply or divide both sides?

Multiplying by a positive

 $9$9 $<$< $15$15 Given $9\times3$9×3 $<$< $15\times3$15×3 Multiplying by $3$3 $27$27 $<$< $45$45 Simplifying

The inequality stays the same

Dividing by a positive

 $9$9 $<$< $15$15 Given $\frac{9}{3}$93​ $<$< $\frac{15}{3}$153​ Dividing by $3$3 $3$3 $<$< $5$5 Simplifying

The inequality stays the same

Multiplying by a negative

 $9$9 $<$< $15$15 Given $9\times\left(-3\right)$9×(−3) $>$> $15\times\left(-3\right)$15×(−3) Multiplying by $-3$−3 $-27$−27 $>$> $-45$−45 Simplifying

The inequality switches from $<$< to $>$>!

Dividing by a negative

 $9$9 $<$< $15$15 Given $\frac{9}{-3}$9−3​ $>$> $\frac{15}{-3}$15−3​ Dividing by $-3$−3 $-3$−3 $>$> $-5$−5 Simplifying

The inequality switches from $<$<to $>$>!

Summary

Same symbol

The following operations don't change the inequality symbol used:

• Adding a number to both sides of an inequality.
• Subtracting a number from both sides of an inequality.
• Multiplying both sides of an inequality by a positive number.
• Dividing both sides of an inequality by a positive number.
Opposite symbol

The following operations reverse the inequality symbol used:

• Multiplying both sides of an inequality by a negative number.
• Dividing both sides of an inequality by a negative number.

Practice questions

Question 1

Consider the following statement: $7<10$7<10

1. Add $6$6 to both sides of the inequality and simplify.

2. After adding $6$6 to both sides, does the inequality still hold true?

Yes

A

No

B

Yes

A

No

B

question 2

Consider the following statement: $5<7$5<7

1. Multiply both sides of the inequality by $2$2 and simplify.

2. After multiplying both sides by $2$2, does the inequality still hold true?

Yes

A

No

B

Yes

A

No

B

question 3

Consider the following statement: $6<10$6<10

1. Multiply both sides of the inequality by $-4$4 and simplify. Do not change the sign of the inequality.

2. After multiplying both sides by $-4$4, does the inequality still hold true?

Yes

A

No

B

Yes

A

No

B

Solving one-step inequalities

Now that we have seen what happens when we perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, we can use this knowledge to solve inequalities.

Before jumping in algebraically, it can be helpful to consider some possible solutions and non-solutions. Then we can look at an algebraic strategy.

Worked examples

Question 4

List at least two values of $x$x which satisfy $x+3<4$x+3<4 and one which does not.

Think: Let's start by picking three values and see if they satisfy the inequality or not. We'll try $-10$10, $0$0 and $10$10.

Do:

Substituting in $-10$10, we get $-10+3<4$10+3<4 or $-7<4$7<4 which is true, so $-10$10 satisfies the inequality

Substituting in $0$0, we get $0+3<4$0+3<4 or $3<4$3<4 which is true, so $0$0 satisfies the inequality

Substituting in $10$10, we get $10+3<4$10+3<4 or $13<4$13<4 which is false, so $10$10 does not satisfy the inequality

So $-10$10 and $0$0 satisfy the inequality $x+3<4$x+3<4, but $10$10 does not. This means that somewhere between $0$0 and $10$10 there is a point where everything below it satisfies the inequality.

Reflect: How does knowing some true values help us when finding a solution or graphing?

Question 5

Solve $x+3<4$x+3<4 algebraically and show your work.

Think: We can solve this similarly to the equation $x+3=4$x+3=4, but we just need to be careful if we are multiplying or dividing by a negative value.

Do:

 $x+3$x+3 $<$< $4$4 Given $x+3-3$x+3−3 $<$< $4-3$4−3 Subtract $3$3 from both sides $x$x $<$< $1$1 Simplify both sides

Reflect: How could the two numberlines below help us to visualize this problem?

$x+3<4$x+3<4

$x<1$x<1

Question 6

Solve $-\frac{x}{2}\ge5$x25 algebraically and show your work.

Think: We can solve this similarly to the equation $-\frac{x}{2}=5$x2=5, but we just need to be careful when we are multiplying or dividing by a negative value.

Do:

 $-\frac{x}{2}$−x2​ $\ge$≥ $5$5 Given $-\frac{x}{2}\times\left(-2\right)$−x2​×(−2) $\le$≤ $5\times\left(-2\right)$5×(−2) Multiply both sides by $-2$−2, we must flip the sign $x$x $\le$≤ $-10$−10 Simplify both sides

Practice questions

QUESTION 7

Solve the following inequality: $x+5>14$x+5>14

Question 8

Solve the following inequality: $x+5\ge11$x+511

Question 9

Solve the following inequality: $10x<90$10x<90

Graphing solutions to one-step inequalities

As we have previously seen, we can plot inequalities by using number lines.

We can first solve an inequality and then graph it. This can also help to check our answer.

Worked example

Question 10

Solve and graph the solution to $x+3>5$x+3>5.

Think: We do not need to multiply or divide by a negative, so we end up with a numberline with a hollow (open) endpoint and the ray point to the right.

Do:

 $x+3$x+3 $>$> $5$5 Given $x+3-3$x+3−3 $>$> $5-3$5−3 Subtract $3$3 from both sides $x$x $>$> $2$2 Simplify both sides

So the plot will show "all numbers greater than $2$2" on the number line, which looks like this:

Remember

When solving an inequality:

• Multiplying or dividing both sides by a negative number will reverse the inequality symbol.
• Reversing the order of the inequality will reverse the inequality symbol too.

When plotting an inequality:

• The symbols $<$< and $>$> don't include the end point, which we show with a hollow circle.
• The symbols $\ge$ and $\le$ do include the endpoint, which we show with a filled circle.

Practice Questions

Question 11

Consider the inequality $3+x<2$3+x<2.

1. Solve the inequality.

2. Now plot the solutions to the inequality $3+x<2$3+x<2 on the number line below.

Question 12

Consider the inequality $2x>-4$2x>4.

1. Solve the inequality.

2. Now plot the solutions to the inequality $2x>-4$2x>4 on the number line below.

Question 13

Consider the inequality $\frac{x}{-7}<2$x7<2.

1. Solve the inequality.

2. Now plot the solutions to the inequality $\frac{x}{-7}<2$x7<2 on the number line below.

Outcomes

7.EE.4

Use variables to represent quantities in a realworld or mathematical problem, and construct simple equations and inequalities to solve problems by reasoning about the quantities.

7.EE.4b

b. Solve word problems leading to inequalities of the form px + q > r or px + q < r, where p, q, and r are specific rational numbers. Graph the solution set of the inequality and interpret it in the context of the problem. For example: As a salesperson, you are paid $50 per week plus$3 per sale. This week you want your pay to be at least \$100. Write an inequality for the number of sales you need to make, and describe the solutions.