# Compound Inequalities03:59 minutes

Video Transcript

## TranscriptCompound Inequalities

Jerry and Larry want to ride the rollercoaster, but they have a "little big" problem. What does this have to do with compound inequalities? Let me tell you.

Let’s look at the problem first: You are only allowed to ride the rollercoaster if you are at least 4 feet 7 inches in height or shorter than 6 foot 3. Jerry is shorter than 4 foot 7 while Larry is taller than 6 foot 3.

### Compound Inequalities on a Number Line: Conjunction and Disjunction

Let’s have a look at the number line to see how this problem can be represented graphically. It's not that you have to be an exact height to ride a rollercoaster, but you do have to be taller than a certain height as well as shorter than a certain height.

So you can say the height is greater than or equal to 4 foot 7, which is represented by a filled circle. Also, it has to be less than 6 foot 3, which is represented by an empty circle.

We'll use x to represent height. You can write this as a compound inequality with AND. x is less than 4 foot AND x is also less than 6 foot 3.

If you don’t look at the people who are allowed to ride the rollercoaster but instead at the people who aren’t allowed, like Jerry and Larry, you have a compound inequality with OR; either x is more than 4 foot 7 or x is greater than or equal to 6 foot 3.

This is represented graphically by these parts. Be careful: If you flip the wording in the problem, you also have to switch the circles! This means an empty circle at 4 foot 7 and an filled circle at 6 food 3.

### How to solve Compound Inequalities: Conjunction

Let's take a look at an example to figure out how to calculate compound inequalities: 4 < 2x < 10.

This is a compound inequality with AND. So you can split this into two inequalities and put the word AND in between, ending up with one inequality, 4 < 2x and the other inequality is 2x < 10.

Now you calculate each inequality separately. Since we have 2x in both equations, we should divide both sides of both inequalities by two; the signs stay the same.

You can bring the two solutions, 2 < x and x < 5, back into one compound ineqality by reversing the process earlier. Remove the AND and now line up the Xs to get: 2 < x < 5.

### How to solve Compound Inequalities: Disjunction

For compound inequalities with OR, you already have two seperate inequalities to begin with. So you simply calculate each individually.

In order to isolate the Xs, you have to eliminate 1 in the equation on the left, and 2 in the equation on the right. So you add 1 and 2 to the left and right equations, respectively.

Now you have to divide the equations by the coefficients, or the numbers in front of the x, which is 3 in the first equation and 4 in the second.

Your solutions, x < 5 and x > 12, can be brought together in the end with the word OR.

Let’s get back to Jerry and Larry. They really want to ride the rollercoaster. Jerry has an idea. Jerry decided to give his shoes to Larry. Now their heights are just right.

## Videos in this Topic

Inequalities (6 Videos)

## Compound Inequalities Exercise

### Would you like to practice what you’ve just learned? Practice problems for this video Compound Inequalities help you practice and recap your knowledge.

• #### Write an inequality to describe the situation.

##### Hints

The phrases less than, at most, between, more than, or at least have special meanings in math.

For example, more than means $>$. The equal sign is not included.

At most $10$ means $\le 10$ and $10$ is included.

##### Solution

Jerry and Larry want to ride the rollercoaster. They have a problem with the minimum and maximum height allowed to ride the roller coaster.

• At least $4$ feet $7$ inches can be expressed mathematically using $\ge$. So $x\ge 4$ feet $7$ inches or $4$ feet $7$ inches $\le x$.
• Shorter than $6$ feet $3$ inches can be expressed as $x<6$ feet $3$ inches.
Combining the two expressions, we get the compound inequality $4$ feet $7$ inches $\le x<6$ feet $3$ inches.

• #### Simplify the following inequalities.

##### Hints

To solve an inequality treat it like an equation and isolate the variable $x$ using opposite operations.

Remember, when multiplying with or dividing by a negative value, flip the sign!

Use Opposite Operations:

• Multiplication ($\times~\longleftrightarrow~\div$)
• Division ($\div~\longleftrightarrow~\times$)
• Addition ($+~\longleftrightarrow~-$)
• Subtraction ($-~\longleftrightarrow~+$)

##### Solution

Let's have a look at solving compound inequalities.

We start with a compound inequality: $4<2x<10$.

We can treat this inequality just like an equation by using opposite operations to isolate the variable $x$.

REMEMBER! If we multiply or divide both sides of the equation by a negative value, we have to flip the sign.

The left side divided by $2$ gives us $2<x$, and the right side becomes $x<5$. Because these inequalities are connected by the word and, we get the following compound inequality: $2<x<5$.

Next we look at $3x-1<14$ and $4x-2>46$.

First we transform the first inequality:

• Adding $1$ on both sides gives us $3x<15$
• Dividing by $3$ leaves us with $x<5$. Notice that the sign is still pointing in the same direction.
Now for the second inequality:
• Add $2$ to both sides to get $4x>48$
• Dividing by $4$ on both sides gives us our solution, $x>12$.
Together, we get the compound inequality $x<5$ or $x>48$.

Let's have a look at the difference between and and or.

And means that both inequalities must be fulfilled. This can be seen as the intersection of two sets.

Or is a disjunction. This means that at least one of the inequalities has to be fulfilled.

• #### Decide which number line belongs to which compound inequality.

##### Hints

First, isolate the $x$.

• $<x$ less than, $x$ is not included
• $\le x$ at most, $x$ is included
• $>x$ greater than, $x$ is not included
• $\ge x$ at least, $x$ is included
##### Solution

We can represent compound inequalities with number lines. We can indicate included numbers with filled circles and excluded numbers with empty circles.

First, we have to isolate the variable $x$ in each inequality.

$\begin{array}{rclcrccl} 3&<&3x&<&12&&|\text{ ($\times~\leftrightarrow~\div$) Opposite Operations}\\ 1&<&x&<&4 \end{array}$

This is the blue number line with two empty circles $4$ and $14$.

$\begin{array}{rclcrccl} 4&<&3x+1&\le&13&&|\text{ ($+~\leftrightarrow~-$) Opposite Operations}\\ 3&<&3x&\le&12&&|\text{ ($\times~\leftrightarrow~\div$) Opposite Operations}\\ 1&<&~~x&\le&4 \end{array}$

This is the green line number with an empty circle at $1$ and $4$.

$\begin{array}{rclcrccl} 3&\le&2x-5&\le& 9&&|\text{ ($-~\leftrightarrow~+$) Opposite Operations}\\ 8&\le&2x&\le&14&&|\text{ ($\times~\leftrightarrow~\div$) Opposite Operations}\\ 4&\le&~~x&\le &7 \end{array}$

This is the yellow line number.

$\begin{array}{rclcrccl} 5&<&3x-4&\le& 11&&|\text{ ($-~\leftrightarrow~+$) Opposite Operations}\\ 9&<&3x&\le&15&&|\text{ ($\times~\leftrightarrow~\div$) Opposite Operations}\\ 3&<&~~x&\le&5 \end{array}$

This is the red line number.

• #### Solve the inequality.

##### Hints

To solve an inequality treat it like an equation, but don't forget to consider the sign.

Remember, if you multiply or divide by a negative value, you have to flip the sign!

Or more explicitly:

• $<$ changes to $<$, and vice versa
• $\le$ changes to $\ge$, and vice versa
##### Solution

We can solve inequalities by following these simple steps:

• Use opposite operations
• If you multiply or divide by a negative number, flip the sign
• Isolate the variable $x$
$\begin{array}{rclcrcl} -10&\le& -2\times(x+1)&<&-4&~&|\text{ Distributive Property}\\ -10&\le& -2x-2&<&-4\\ \color{#669900}{+2}&&\color{#669900}{+2}&&\color{#669900}{+2}&~&|\text{ ($-~\leftrightarrow~+$) Opposite Operations}\\ -8&\le& -2x&<&-2&~&|\div(-2)\\ \color{#669900}{\div(-2)}&&\color{#669900}{\div(-2)}&&\color{#669900}{\div(-2)}&~&|\text{ ($\times~\leftrightarrow~\div$) Opposite Operations}\\ 4&\ge& x&>&1&~&|\text{ Flip the Sign(s)} \end{array}$

This compound inequality can also be written as follows:

$1<x\le4$.

• #### Explain what the inequality means.

##### Hints

For example, more than means $>$.

$\ge x$ means at least, $x$ is included

For example, less than means $<$.

$\le x$ means at most, $x$ is included

$2\le x\le4$ means that $x$ is $2$ or more as well as $4$ or less.

##### Solution

First let's have a look at the signs and their meanings:

• $<x$ less than, $x$ is not included
• $\le x$ at most, $x$ is included
• $>x$ greater than, $x$ is not included
• $\ge x$ at least, $x$ is included
The above compound inequality tells us that visitors who want to ride the roller coaster have to be at least $4$ feet and $7$ inches tall and shorter than $6$ feet $3$ inches. If a visitor is $6$ feet $3$ inches tall, he or she cannot ride the roller coaster.

• #### Determine the opposite inequality.

##### Hints

The opposite of inclusion (and) is exclusion (or).

The opposite of

• $<$ is $\ge$
• $\le$ is $>$
...and vice versa.

##### Solution

The opposite of inclusion (and) is exclusion (or).

If we want to examine all values for $x$ that don't satisfy the compound inequality $12\le3\times(x+2)<24$, we first have to isolate the variable $x$:

$\begin{array}{rcrcl} ~~\\ 12&\le& 3\times(x+2)&<&24&&|\text{ Distributive Property}\\ 12&\le& 3x+6&<&24\\ \color{#669900}{-6}&&\color{#669900}{-6}&&\color{#669900}{-6}&&|\text{ ($+~\leftrightarrow~-$) Opposite Operations}\\ 6&\le& 3x&<&18\\ \color{#669900}{\div3}&&\color{#669900}{\div3}&&\color{#669900}{\div3}&&|\text{ ($\times~\leftrightarrow~\div$) Opposite Operations}\\ 2&\le& x&<&6\\ ~~\\ \end{array}$

But what does this inequality mean? Right, both inequalities, $2\le x$ and $x<6$ have to be satisfied.

The opposite of the first inequality is $2>x$ or $x<2$. The opposite of the second inequality is given by $6\le x$.

The opposite of and is or. So the resulting compound inequality is

$x<2$ or $x\ge 6$.