PROPERTIES OF INEQUALITIES

Properties of Inequalities

Inequality tells you about the relative size of two values.

The 4 Inequalities

Symbol
Words
Example
>
greater than
x+3 > 2
<
less than
7x < 28
≥
greater than or equal to
5 ≥ x-1
≤
less than or equal to
2y+1 ≤ 7
greater than sign
The symbol "points at" the smaller value

Properties

Inequalities have properties ... all with special names!
Here we list each one, with examples.
Note: the values a, b and c we use below are Real Numbers.

Transitive Property

When you link up inequalities in order, you can "jump over" the middle inequality.
Transitive Property
If a < b and b < c, then a < c
Likewise:
If a > b and b > c, then a > c

Example:

  • If Alex is older than Billy and
  • Billy is older than Carol,
then Alex must be older than Carol also!

Reversal Property

You can swap a and b over, if you make sure the symbol still "points at" the smaller value.
  • If a > b then b < a
  • If a < b then b > a
Example: Alex is older than Billy, so Billy is younger than Alex

Law of Trichotomy

The "Law of Trichotomy" says that only one of the following is true:
Trichotomy Property
It makes sense, right? a must be either less than b or equal to b or greater than b. It must be one of those, and only one of those.

Example: Alex Has More Money Than Billy

We could write it like this:
a > b
So we also know that:
  • Alex does not have less money than Billy (not a<b)
  • Alex does not have the same amount of money as Billy (not a=b)
(Of course!)

Addition and Subtraction

Adding c to both sides of an inequality just shifts everything along, and the inequality stays the same.
Addition Property
If a < b, then a + c < b + c

Example: Alex has less coins than Billy.

If both Alex and Billy get 3 more coins each, Alex will still have less coins than Billy.
Likewise:
  • If a < b, then a − c < b − c
  • If a > b, then a + c > b + c, and
  • If a > b, then a − c > b − c
So adding (or subtracting) the same value to both a and b will not change the inequality

Multiplication and Division

When you multiply both a and b by a positive number, the inequality stays the same.
But when you multiply both a and b by a negative number, the inequality swaps over!
Multiplication Property
Notice that a<b becomes b<a after multiplying by (-2)
But the inequality stays the same when multiplying by +3
Here are the rules:
  • If a < b, and c is positive, then ac < bc
  • If a < b, and c is negative, then ac > bc (inequality swaps over!)
A "positive" example:
Example: Alex's score of 3 is lower than Billy's score of 7.
a < b
If both Alex and Billy manage to double their scores (×2), Alex's score will still be lower than Billy's score.
2a < 2b
But when multiplying by a negative the opposite happens:
But if the scores become minuses, then Alex loses 3 points and Billy loses 7 points
So Alex has now done better than Billy!
-a > -b

Why does multiplying by a negative reverse the sign?

Well, just look at the number line!
For example, from 3 to 7 is an increase, but from -3 to -7 is a decrease.
-7 < -37 > 3
See how the inequality sign reverses (from < to >) ?

Additive Inverse

As we just saw, putting minuses in front of a and b changes the direction of the inequality. This is called the "Additive Inverse":
  • If a < b then -a > -b
  • If a > b then -a < -b
This is really the same as multiplying by (-1), and that is why it changes direction.
Example: Alex has more money than Billy, and so Alex is ahead.
But a new law says "all your money is now a debt you must repay with hard work"
So now Alex is worse off than Billy.

Multiplicative Inverse

Multiplicative Inverse
Taking the reciprocal (1/value) of both a and b can change the direction of the inequality.
When a and b are both positive or both negative:
  • If a < b then 1/a > 1/b
  • If a > b then 1/a < 1/b

Example: Alex and Billy both complete a journey of 12 kilometres.

Alex runs at 6 km/h and Billy walks at 4 km/h.
Alex’s speed is greater than Billy’s speed
6 > 4
But Alex’s time is less than Billy’s time:
12/6 < 12/4
2 hours < 3 hours
However when either a or b is negative (but not both) the direction stays the same:
  • If a < b then 1/a < 1/b
  • If a > b then 1/a > 1/b

Non-Negative Property of Squares

A square of a number will be greater than or equal to zero:
a2 ≥ 0

Example:

  • (3)2 = 9
  • (-3)2 = 9
  • (0)2 = 0
Always greater than (or equal to) zero

Square Root Property

Taking a square root will not change the inequality (but only when both a and b are greater than or equal to zero).
If a ≤ b then √a ≤ √b(for a,b ≥ 0)

Example: a=4, b=9

  • 4 ≤ 9 so √4 ≤ √9
S-BATCH