Ch. 3 – Inequalities 
3.1 Linear Inequalities; 
Absolute Value 
Objectives: 
Solve and graph linear inequalities in one variable
Solving Inequalities 
• Solve just like an equation, EXCEPT: 
• The inequality sign must be reversed if you 
multiply or divide by a negative number 
Graphing solutions 
• On a number line: 
• < , > use open circle 
•  ,  use closed circle 
• Shade (or use an arrow) to indicate solution 
set.
Example 1a 
• Solve 3x – 4  10 + x and graph the 
solution.
Example 1b 
• Solve and graph the solution.
You Try! 
• Solve and graph the 
solution.
Absolute Value 
• |x| means (geometrically) the distance 
from x to zero on the number line. (c  0) 
Sentence Meaning 
The distance 
from x to 0 is: 
Graph Solution 
|x| = c exactly c units x = c or x = -c 
-c 0 c 
|x| < c less than c units -c < x< c 
|x| > c greater than c 
units 
x < -c or x > c 
-c 0 c 
-c 0 c
• Sentences with |x – k| can mean the 
distance from x to k on the number line. 
Sentence Meaning Graph Solution 
|x - 5| = 3 The distance 
from x to 5 is 3 
units 
x = 2 or x = 8 
|x - 1| < 2 The distance 
from x to 1 is 
less than 2 units 
-1 < x< 3 
|x + 3| > 2 or 
|x – (-3)| > 2 
The distance 
from x to -3 is 
greater than 2 
units 
x < -5 or x > -1
Algebraic Method 
Sentence Equivalent Sentence 
|ax + b| = c ax + b = c 
|ax + b| < c -c < ax + b < c 
|ax + b| > c ax + b < -c or ax + b > c
Example 2a 
• Solve |3x – 9| > 4 and graph the solution.
Example 2b 
• Solve |2x + 5|  7 and graph the solution.
You Try! 
• Solve and graph the solution: 
• |2x + 3 | = 1 
• |x – 2|  3

3 1 linear inequalities, absolute value

  • 1.
    Ch. 3 –Inequalities 3.1 Linear Inequalities; Absolute Value Objectives: Solve and graph linear inequalities in one variable
  • 2.
    Solving Inequalities •Solve just like an equation, EXCEPT: • The inequality sign must be reversed if you multiply or divide by a negative number Graphing solutions • On a number line: • < , > use open circle •  ,  use closed circle • Shade (or use an arrow) to indicate solution set.
  • 3.
    Example 1a •Solve 3x – 4  10 + x and graph the solution.
  • 4.
    Example 1b •Solve and graph the solution.
  • 5.
    You Try! •Solve and graph the solution.
  • 6.
    Absolute Value •|x| means (geometrically) the distance from x to zero on the number line. (c  0) Sentence Meaning The distance from x to 0 is: Graph Solution |x| = c exactly c units x = c or x = -c -c 0 c |x| < c less than c units -c < x< c |x| > c greater than c units x < -c or x > c -c 0 c -c 0 c
  • 7.
    • Sentences with|x – k| can mean the distance from x to k on the number line. Sentence Meaning Graph Solution |x - 5| = 3 The distance from x to 5 is 3 units x = 2 or x = 8 |x - 1| < 2 The distance from x to 1 is less than 2 units -1 < x< 3 |x + 3| > 2 or |x – (-3)| > 2 The distance from x to -3 is greater than 2 units x < -5 or x > -1
  • 8.
    Algebraic Method SentenceEquivalent Sentence |ax + b| = c ax + b = c |ax + b| < c -c < ax + b < c |ax + b| > c ax + b < -c or ax + b > c
  • 9.
    Example 2a •Solve |3x – 9| > 4 and graph the solution.
  • 10.
    Example 2b •Solve |2x + 5|  7 and graph the solution.
  • 11.
    You Try! •Solve and graph the solution: • |2x + 3 | = 1 • |x – 2|  3