Quick question about inequality notation

In summary, in certain situations it may be necessary to switch from inequality to equality, but it is always important to have only one comparison symbol per line. However, it is also acceptable to have multiple comparison symbols per line, depending on your writing style. The statement "A or B" is true if either A or B is true. For example, "4\le 4" means "4< 4 or 4= 4", and since the latter is true, 4\le 4 is also true. While it may be more precise to say "4 = 4", both statements are correct.
  • #1
quark1005
15
0
Which of the following is correct, if x = 4?

[tex]n\leq3x^{2}[/tex]

[tex]\leq3(4)^{2}[/tex]

[tex]\leq48[/tex]

or

[tex]n\leq3x^{2}[/tex] [tex]=3(4)^{2}[/tex] [tex]=48[/tex]

In other words, in what situations is it necessary to switch from inequality to equality, and it is always required to have only one comparison symbol per line?
 
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  • #2
quark1005 said:
In other words, in what situations is it necessary to switch from inequality to equality, and it is always required to have only one comparison symbol per line?
It really depends on your writing style. Every maths textbook I've seen puts multiple comparison symbols per line, so it's not a big deal if you do so.
 
  • #3
"A or B" is true if either A or B is true. In particular "[itex]4\le 4[/itex]" means "4< 4 or 4= 4". Since the latter is true [itex]4\le 4[/itex] is true. Of course, it is more precise to say "4 = 4" but both are true.
 
  • #4
Both of your examples are correct, but the second one is the one usually seen.
 

FAQ: Quick question about inequality notation

What is inequality notation?

Inequality notation is a mathematical way to represent relationships between two numbers or expressions using symbols such as <, >, ≤, and ≥. It is used to show which value is greater or less than the other.

How do you read inequality notation?

Inequality notation is read as "is less than", "is greater than", "is less than or equal to", or "is greater than or equal to". For example, 5 < 10 would be read as "5 is less than 10".

What is the difference between an inequality and an equation?

An inequality compares two values or expressions, while an equation states that two values or expressions are equal. In an inequality, the relationship between the two values is either less than, greater than, less than or equal to, or greater than or equal to, whereas an equation states that the two values are exactly equal.

How can inequality notation be used in real life?

Inequality notation can be used to compare quantities such as income, population, temperature, or height. It can also be used to represent constraints or boundaries in various fields, such as economics, physics, and statistics.

Can you solve inequalities like equations?

Yes, inequalities can be solved just like equations, with the goal of finding the value or range of values that make the statement true. However, there are some additional rules to keep in mind when solving inequalities, such as the need to reverse the inequality symbol when multiplying or dividing by a negative number.

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