Understanding Inequalities
Inequalities are mathematical sentences that show when two quantities aren't equal to each other. They're similar to equations but instead of finding exact values, we're looking for ranges of solutions.
Inequality symbols tell us the relationship between quantities: less than (<), greater than (>), less than or equal to (≤), and greater than or equal to (≥). Each symbol has a specific meaning - for example, "≤" means "is at most" while "≥" means "is at least."
We can use inequalities in real-life situations. For instance, "A ≥ 18" could represent an age requirement, meaning someone must be at least 18 years old. Similarly, "w > 50" might represent a weight requirement for dogs, indicating the weight must be greater than 50 pounds.
💡 When graphing inequalities on a number line, use an open circle (○) for < or > (showing the endpoint isn't included) and a closed circle (●) for ≤ or ≥ (showing the endpoint is included).