Algebra 1 : Linear Inequalities

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Algebra 1

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Solving Inequalities

Solve this inequality.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Split the inequality into two possible cases as follows, based on the absolute values.

First case:

Second case: 

Let's find the inequality of the first case.

Multiply both sides by x + 6.

Subtract x from both sides, then subtract 3 from both sides.

Divide both sides by 3.

Let's find the inequality of the second case.

Multiply both sides by x + 6.

Simplify.

Add x to both sides, then subtract 3 from both sides.

Divide both sides by 5.

So the range of x-values is   and  .

Example Question #1 : Absolute Value Inequalities

Solve for :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Solve for positive values by ignoring the absolute value. Solve for negative values by switching the inequality and adding a negative sign to 7.

Example Question #2 : Absolute Value Inequalities

Give the solution set for the following equation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, subtract 5 from both sides to get the absolute value expression alone.

Split this into two linear equations:

or 

 

The solution set is 

Example Question #1 : Absolute Value Inequalities

Solve for  in the inequality below.

Possible Answers:

All real numbers

No solutions

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The absolute value gives two problems to solve. Remember to switch the "less than" to "greater than" when comparing the negative term.

or

Solve each inequality separately by adding to all sides.

or

This can be simplified to the format .

Example Question #3 : Absolute Value

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Example Question #2 : Absolute Value Inequalities

Solve the inequality.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Remove the absolute value by setting the term equal to either or . Remember to flip the inequality for the negative term!

Solve each scenario independently by subtracting from both sides.

Example Question #6 : Absolute Value Inequalities

Solve for  :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The absolute value of any number is nonnegative, so  must always be greater than . Therefore, any value of  makes this a true statement.

Example Question #11 : Absolute Value Inequalities

Solve the following inequality.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Inequalities involving  generate two separate inequalities and can't be combined into a single inequality.

First isolate the absolute value expression on one side of the inequality

 

Subtract eight from each side.

From here separate the expression into two expressions for which we will need to solve.

 

Add six to get side.

Example Question #11 : Absolute Value Inequalities

Solve the inequality for .

Possible Answers:

and

and

Correct answer:

and

Explanation:

To solve an inequality with absolute value you have to consider the two equations it creates.

becomes  and

Solve for both inequalities by following the balancing rules. Be careful of division or multiplication of a negative number; if that happens, flip the inequality sign.

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Example Question #12 : Absolute Value Inequalities

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We first need to eliminate the absolute value sign by making two inequalities: 

 and . Remember that when the number becomes negative we must flip the inequality symbol.

From there, it is a simple one-step inequality. We divide both sides by  to get:

.

Because x lies between  and , we can combine these into one inequality:

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