Section 2.4 Equations and Inequalities as True/False Statements
This section introduces the concepts of algebraic equations and inequalities, and what it means for a number to be a solution to an equation or inequality.
Subsection 2.4.1 Equations, Inequalities, and Solutions
An equation is two mathematical expressions with an equals sign between them. The two expressions can be relatively simple or more complicated:
A relatively simple equation:
A more complicated equation:
An inequality is quite similar, but the sign between the expressions is one of these: \(\lt\text{,}\) \(\leq\text{,}\) \(\gt\text{,}\) \(\geq\text{,}\) or \(\neq\text{.}\)
A relatively simple inequality:
A more complicated inequality:
A linear equation in one variable can be written in the form \(ax+b=0\text{,}\) where \(a, b\) are real numbers, and \(a\ne0\text{.}\) The variable doesn't have to be \(x\text{.}\) The variable cannot have an exponent other than \(1\) (\(x=x^1\)), and the variable cannot be inside a root symbol (square root, cube root, etc.) or in a denominator.
The following are some linear equations in one variable:
(Note that \(r\) is outside the square root symbol.) We will see in later sections that all equations above can be converted into the form \(ax+b=0\text{.}\)
The following are some non-linear equations:
This chapter focuses on linear equations in one variable. We will study other types of equations in later chapters.
The simplest equations and inequalities have numbers and no variables. When this happens, the equation is either true or false. The following equations and inequalities are true statements:
The following equations and inequalities are false statements:
When equations and inequalities have variables, we can consider substituting values in for the variables. If replacing a variable with a number makes an equation or inequality true, then that number is called a solution to the equation.
Example 2.4.1. A Solution.
Consider the equation \(y+2=3\text{,}\) which has only one variable, \(y\text{.}\) If we substitute in \(1\) for \(y\) and then simplify:
we get a true equation. So we say that \(1\) is a solution to \(y+2=3\text{.}\) Notice that we used a question mark at first because we are unsure if the equation is true or false until the end.
If replacing a variable with a value makes a false equation or inequality, that number is not a solution.
Example 2.4.2. Not a Solution.
Consider the inequality \(x+4\gt 5\text{,}\) which has only one variable, \(x\text{.}\) If we substitute in \(0\) for \(x\) and then simplify:
we get a false equation. So we say that \(0\) is not a solution to \(x+4\gt 5\text{.}\)
Subsection 2.4.2 Checking Possible Solutions
Given an equation or an inequality (with one variable), checking if some particular number is a solution is just a matter of replacing the value of the variable with the specified number and determining if the resulting equation/inequality is true or false. This may involve some amount of arithmetic simplification.
Example 2.4.3.
Is \(8\) a solution to \(x^2-5x=\sqrt{2x}+20\text{?}\)
To find out, substitute in \(8\) for \(x\text{,}\) follow the order of operations to simplify each side of the equation, and see what happens.
So yes, \(8\) is a solution to \(x^2-5x=\sqrt{2x}+20\text{.}\)
Example 2.4.4.
Is \(-5\) a solution to \(\sqrt{169-y^2}=y^2-2y\text{?}\)
To find out, substitute in \(-5\) for \(y\text{,}\) follow the order of operations to simplify each side of the equation, and see what happens.
So no, \(-5\) is not a solution to \(\sqrt{169-y^2}=y^2-2y\text{.}\)
But is \(-5\) a solution to the inequality \(\sqrt{169-y^2}\leq y^2-2y\text{?}\) Yes, because substituting \(-5\) in for \(y\) would give you
which is true.
Checkpoint 2.4.5.
Checkpoint 2.4.6.
Checkpoint 2.4.7.
Checkpoint 2.4.8.
Checkpoint 2.4.9.
Example 2.4.10. Cylinder Volume.
A cylinder's volume is related to its radius and its height by:
where \(V\) is the volume, \(r\) is the base's radius, and \(h\) is the height. If we know the volume is 96\(\pi\) cm3 and the radius is 4 cm, then we have:
Is 4 cm the height of the cylinder? In other words, is \(4\) a solution to \(96\pi=16\pi h\text{?}\) We will substitute \(h\) in the equation with \(4\) to check:
Since \(96\pi=64\pi\) is false, \(h=4\) does not satisfy the equation \(96\pi=16\pi h\text{.}\)
Next, we will try \(h=6\text{:}\)
When \(h=6\text{,}\) the equation \(96\pi=16\pi h\) is true. This tells us that \(6\) is a solution to \(96\pi=16\pi h\text{.}\)
Remark 2.4.12.
Note that we did not approximate \(\pi\) with \(3.14\) or any other approximation. We often leave \(\pi\) as \(\pi\) throughout our calculations. If we need to round, we do so as a final step.
Example 2.4.13.
Jaylen has budgeted a maximum of \(\$300\) for an appliance repair. The total cost of the repair can be modeled by \(89+110(h-0.25)\text{,}\) where \(\$89\) is the initial cost and \(\$110\) is the hourly labor charge after the first quarter hour. Is \(2\) hours a solution for \(h\) in the inequality \(89+110(h-0.25)\le 300\text{?}\)
To determine if \(h=2\) satisfies the inequality, we will replace \(h\) with \(2\) and check if the statement is true:
Thus, \(2\) hours is a solution for \(h\) in the inequality \(89+110(h-0.25)\le 300\text{.}\) In context, this means that Jaylen would stay within their \(\$300\) budget if \(2\) hours of labor were performed.
Exercises 2.4.3 Exercises
Review and Warmup
Try to complete the following exercises without a calculator.
1.
Evaluate \({8-x}\) for \(x = -7\text{.}\)
2.
Evaluate \({1-x}\) for \(x = -5\text{.}\)
3.
Evaluate \({-6x-1}\) for \(x = -3\text{.}\)
4.
Evaluate \({7x+7}\) for \(x = 0\text{.}\)
5.
Evaluate \({-8\!\left(r+5\right)}\) for \(r = 0\text{.}\)
6.
Evaluate \({-4\!\left(r+2\right)}\) for \(r = -7\text{.}\)
7.
Evaluate \({2y^{2}}\) when \(y=3\text{.}\)
Evaluate \({\left(2y\right)^{2}}\) when \(y=3\text{.}\)
8.
Evaluate \({2y^{2}}\) when \(y=5\text{.}\)
Evaluate \({\left(2y\right)^{2}}\) when \(y=5\text{.}\)
9.
Evaluate the expression \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4} \big( x + 1 \big)^2 - 2\) when \(x = -5\text{.}\)
10.
Evaluate the expression \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{7} \big( x + 1 \big)^2 - 8\) when \(x = -8\text{.}\)
11.
Evaluate the expression \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2} h \big( B + b \big)\) when \(h = 8, \ B = 5, \ b = 7.\)
12.
Evaluate the expression \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2} h \big( B + b \big)\) when \(h = 8, \ B = 3, \ b = 4.\)
13.
Evaluate the expression \(-16t^{2}+64t+128\) when \(t=-4\text{.}\)
14.
Evaluate the expression \(-16t^{2}+64t+128\) when \(t=3\text{.}\)
Identifying Linear Equations and Inequalities
15.
Are the equations below linear equations in one variable?
\(1+6q^{2}=-7\)
is
is not
\(\sqrt{4-1.9q}=7\)
is
is not
\(3.79p=-7\)
is
is not
\(2\pi r=4\pi\)
is
is not
\(7x^{2}+6r=-4\)
is
is not
\(16-5q=-6\)
is
is not
16.
Are the equations below linear equations in one variable?
\(-4p-7=-7\)
is
is not
\(\sqrt{-1.1y-3}=2\)
is
is not
\(6z^{2}-6=13\)
is
is not
\(2\pi r=13\pi\)
is
is not
\(-6q^{2}-4V=-29\)
is
is not
\(1.8p=8\)
is
is not
17.
Are the equations below linear equations in one variable?
\(-0.19p=38\)
is
is not
\(-Vyz=-2\)
is
is not
\(\pi r^{2}=7\pi\)
is
is not
\(z\sqrt{29}=13\)
is
is not
\(y^{2}+p^{2}=84\)
is
is not
\(9q+6=-91\)
is
is not
18.
Are the equations below linear equations in one variable?
\(-12y-1=94\)
is
is not
\(\pi r^{2}=41\pi\)
is
is not
\(V^{2}+q^{2}=5\)
is
is not
\(-2.18x=-6\)
is
is not
\(5xVq=7\)
is
is not
\(r\sqrt{28}=-74\)
is
is not
19.
Are the inequalities below linear inequalities in one variable?
\(3p^{2}-8q^{2}\geq1\)
is
is not
\(0\lt5-9x\)
is
is not
\(4y^{2}+q\leq-80\)
is
is not
20.
Are the inequalities below linear inequalities in one variable?
\(3z-6y^{2}\leq46\)
is
is not
\(5\leq4-13r\)
is
is not
\(-2z^{2}-8p^{2}\geq1\)
is
is not
21.
Are the inequalities below linear inequalities in one variable?
\(\sqrt{8x}-6\gt4\)
is
is not
\(73\leq826t-2785p\)
is
is not
\(4.2z\lt36\)
is
is not
22.
Are the inequalities below linear inequalities in one variable?
\(\sqrt{8p}+10\geq3\)
is
is not
\(4r\geq96\)
is
is not
\(-128\leq9886q+9822z\)
is
is not
Checking a Solution for an Equation
23.
Is \(1\) a solution for \(x\) in the equation \({x-5} = {-3}\text{?}\)
Yes
No
24.
Is \(4\) a solution for \(x\) in the equation \({x+8} = {12}\text{?}\)
Yes
No
25.
Is \(-1\) a solution for \(t\) in the equation \({2-t} = {1}\text{?}\)
Yes
No
26.
Is \(-5\) a solution for \(t\) in the equation \({-10-t} = {-4}\text{?}\)
Yes
No
27.
Is \(8\) a solution for \(x\) in the equation \({-x-3} = {-10}\text{?}\)
Yes
No
28.
Is \(8\) a solution for \(x\) in the equation \({-8x+3} = {-61}\text{?}\)
Yes
No
29.
Is \(-6\) a solution for \(y\) in the equation \({-5y+7} = {3y+63}\text{?}\)
Yes
No
30.
Is \(6\) a solution for \(y\) in the equation \({4y+1} = {2y+13}\text{?}\)
Yes
No
31.
Is \(-3\) a solution for \(y\) in the equation \({y-6} = {3y}\text{?}\)
Yes
No
32.
Is \(-5\) a solution for \(r\) in the equation \({2\!\left(r-15\right)} = {7r}\text{?}\)
Yes
No
33.
Is \(5\) a solution for \(r\) in the equation \({15\!\left(r+1\right)} = {7\!\left(r+9\right)}\text{?}\)
Yes
No
34.
Is \(2\) a solution for \(t\) in the equation \({9\!\left(t-9\right)} = {11\!\left(t-7\right)}\text{?}\)
Yes
No
35.
Is \({{\frac{5}{3}}}\) a solution for \(x\) in the equation \({9x-9} = 6\text{?}\)
Yes
No
36.
Is \({-{\frac{11}{10}}}\) a solution for \(x\) in the equation \({-10x+5} = -6\text{?}\)
Yes
No
37.
Is \({{\frac{3}{7}}}\) a solution for \(x\) in the equation \({-{\frac{3}{2}}x+2} = {{\frac{37}{14}}}\text{?}\)
Yes
No
38.
Is \({-{\frac{7}{5}}}\) a solution for \(x\) in the equation \({{\frac{1}{2}}x+1} = {{\frac{3}{10}}}\text{?}\)
Yes
No
Checking a Solution for an Inequality
39.
Decide whether each value is a solution to the given inequality.
\(\displaystyle{ 3 x - 18 > -9 }\)
\(x=3\)
is
is not
\(x=-3\)
is
is not
\(x=0\)
is
is not
\(x=10\)
is
is not
40.
Decide whether each value is a solution to the given inequality.
\(\displaystyle{ -3 x +21 > 6 }\)
\(x=-1\)
is
is not
\(x=7\)
is
is not
\(x=0\)
is
is not
\(x=5\)
is
is not
41.
Decide whether each value is a solution to the given inequality.
\(\displaystyle{ 4 x - 8 \ge 0 }\)
\(x=2\)
is
is not
\(x=0\)
is
is not
\(x=9\)
is
is not
\(x=-4\)
is
is not
42.
Decide whether each value is a solution to the given inequality.
\(\displaystyle{ 4 x - 22 \ge -6 }\)
\(x=-2\)
is
is not
\(x=4\)
is
is not
\(x=6\)
is
is not
\(x=0\)
is
is not
43.
Decide whether each value is a solution to the given inequality.
\(\displaystyle{ -5 x +14 \le 9 }\)
\(x=0\)
is
is not
\(x=1\)
is
is not
\(x=-5\)
is
is not
\(x=8\)
is
is not
44.
Decide whether each value is a solution to the given inequality.
\(\displaystyle{ 5 x - 11 \le 4 }\)
\(x=5\)
is
is not
\(x=3\)
is
is not
\(x=0\)
is
is not
\(x=-3\)
is
is not
Checking Solutions for Application Problems
45.
A triangle’s area is \(80\) square meters. Its height is \(16\) meters. Suppose we wanted to find how long is the triangle’s base. A triangle’s area formula is
where \(A\) stands for area, \(b\) for base and \(h\) for height. If we let \(b\) be the triangle’s base, in meters, we can solve this problem using the equation:
Check whether \(20\) is a solution for \(b\) of this equation.
Yes
No
46.
A triangle’s area is \(66\) square meters. Its height is \(12\) meters. Suppose we wanted to find how long is the triangle’s base. A triangle’s area formula is
where \(A\) stands for area, \(b\) for base and \(h\) for height. If we let \(b\) be the triangle’s base, in meters, we can solve this problem using the equation:
Check whether \(11\) is a solution for \(b\) of this equation.
Yes
No
47.
When a plant was purchased, it was \(2.8\) inches tall. It grows \(0.4\) inches per day. How many days later will the plant be \(10\) inches tall?
Assume the plant will be \(10\) inches tall \(d\) days later. We can solve this problem using the equation:
Check whether \(18\) is a solution for \(d\) of this equation.
Yes
No
48.
When a plant was purchased, it was \(2.1\) inches tall. It grows \(0.5\) inches per day. How many days later will the plant be \(8.1\) inches tall?
Assume the plant will be \(8.1\) inches tall \(d\) days later. We can solve this problem using the equation:
Check whether \(12\) is a solution for \(d\) of this equation.
Yes
No
49.
A water tank has \(186\) gallons of water in it, and it is being drained at the rate of \(12\) gallons per minute. After how many minutes will there be \(42\) gallons of water left?
Assume the tank will have \(42\) gallons of water after \(m\) minutes. We can solve this problem using the equation:
Check whether \(12\) is a solution for \(m\) of this equation.
Yes
No
50.
A water tank has \(296\) gallons of water in it, and it is being drained at the rate of \(14\) gallons per minute. After how many minutes will there be \(30\) gallons of water left?
Assume the tank will have \(30\) gallons of water after \(m\) minutes. We can solve this problem using the equation:
Check whether \(19\) is a solution for \(m\) of this equation.
Yes
No
51.
A cylinder’s volume is \(612\pi\) cubic centimeters. Its height is \(17\) centimeters. Suppose we wanted to find how long is the cylinder’s radius. A cylinder’s volume formula is
where \(V\) stands for volume, \(r\) for radius and \(h\) for height. Let \(r\) represent the cylinder’s radius, in centimeters. We can solve this problem using the equation:
Check whether \(6\) is a solution for \(r\) of this equation.
Yes
No
52.
A cylinder’s volume is \(288\pi\) cubic centimeters. Its height is \(18\) centimeters. Suppose we wanted to find how long is the cylinder’s radius. A cylinder’s volume formula is
where \(V\) stands for volume, \(r\) for radius and \(h\) for height. Let \(r\) represent the cylinder’s radius, in centimeters. We can solve this problem using the equation:
Check whether \(16\) is a solution for \(r\) of this equation.
Yes
No
53.
A country’s national debt was \(180\) million dollars in 2010. The debt increased at \(70\) million dollars per year. If this trend continues, when will the country’s national debt increase to \(1230\) million dollars?
Assume the country’s national debt will become \(1230\) million dollars \(y\) years after 2010. We can solve this problem using the equation:
Check whether \(14\) is a solution for \(y\) of this equation.
Yes
No
54.
A country’s national debt was \(150\) million dollars in 2010. The debt increased at \(20\) million dollars per year. If this trend continues, when will the country’s national debt increase to \(630\) million dollars?
Assume the country’s national debt will become \(630\) million dollars \(y\) years after 2010. We can solve this problem using the equation:
Check whether \(24\) is a solution for \(y\) of this equation.
Yes
No
55.
A school district has a reserve fund worth \(20.5\) million dollars. It plans to spend \(2.1\) million dollars per year. After how many years, will there be \(10\) million dollars left?
Assume there will be \(10\) million dollars left after \(y\) years. We can solve this problem using the equation:
Check whether \(5\) is a solution for \(y\) of this equation.
Yes
No
56.
A school district has a reserve fund worth \(32.8\) million dollars. It plans to spend \(2.2\) million dollars per year. After how many years, will there be \(13\) million dollars left?
Assume there will be \(13\) million dollars left after \(y\) years. We can solve this problem using the equation:
Check whether \(9\) is a solution for \(y\) of this equation.
Yes
No
57.
A rectangular frame’s perimeter is \(7.2\) feet. If its length is \(2.3\) feet, suppose we want to find how long is its width. A rectangle’s perimeter formula is
where \(P\) stands for perimeter, \(l\) for length and \(w\) for width. We can solve this problem using the equation:
Check whether \(4.9\) is a solution for \(w\) of this equation.
Yes
No
58.
A rectangular frame’s perimeter is \(7\) feet. If its length is \(2.5\) feet, suppose we want to find how long is its width. A rectangle’s perimeter formula is
where \(P\) stands for perimeter, \(l\) for length and \(w\) for width. We can solve this problem using the equation:
Check whether \(1\) is a solution for \(w\) of this equation.
Yes
No