Inequalities
PARTPART A BDEB C
Multi-Part
Lesson 4
Get ConnectED
GLE 0706.3.8
Use a variety of strategies
to efficiently solve linear
equations and inequalities.
SPI 0706.3.9 Solve linear
inequalities in one variable
with rational coefficients
symbolically or graphically.
Main Idea
Solve inequalities by
using the Multiplication
or Division Properties
of Inequality.
Solve Inequalities by
Multiplication or Division
SCIENCE An astronaut in a space suit
Location Astronaut (lb)Weight of
Earth 300
Moon 50
Pluto 67
Mars 113
Neptune 407
Jupiter 796
weighs about 300 pounds on Earth, but only
50 pounds on the Moon.
weight on Earth weight on Moon
300 > 50
If the astronaut and space suit each weighed
half as much, would the inequality still be
true?
- Divide each side of the inequality 300 > 50 by 2. Is the inequality
still true? Explain by using an inequality. - Would the weight of 5 astronauts be greater on Pluto or on Earth?
Explain by using an inequality.
The examples above demonstrate how you can solve inequalities by
using the Multiplication and Division Properties of Inequality.
Multiplication and Division Properties
of Inequality, Positive Number
Words When you multiply or divide each side of an inequality by a
positive number, the inequality remains true.
Symbols For all numbers a, b, and c, where c > 0,
- if a > b, then ac > bc and _ac > _bc.
- if a < b, then ac < bc and _ac < _bc.
These properties are also true for a ≥ b and a ≤ b.
Multiply or Divide by a Positive Number
Solve 8x ≤ 40.
8 x ≤ 40 Write the inequality.
_^8 x
8
≤ _^40
8
Divide each side by 8.
x ≤ 5 Simplify.
The solution is x ≤ 5. You can check this solution by substituting
5 or a number less than 5 into the inequality.
weigh
Reading Math Reading Math The
inequality c > 0 means
that c is a positive number.
Lesson 4C Inequalities 249
242_253_C04L4_895130.indd 249 12/31/09 4:06 PM