Inequalities

An inequality is a mathematical statement that compares two expressions using inequality symbols. The symbols used are: < (less than), > (greater than), <= (less than or equal to), >= (greater than or equal to). Unlike equations, which have a single solution or a finite set of solutions, inequalities typically have a range of solutions. The set of all values that satisfy an inequality is called the solution set. In Grade 11, we focus on linear inequalities in one variable, quadratic inequalities in one variable, and representing solution sets on a number line. The fundamental principle is that we can perform the same operations on both sides of an inequality as we do for equations, with one critical exception: when we multiply or divide both sides by a negative number, the direction of the inequality sign reverses.