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Compound inequalities review

A compound inequality is an inequality that combines two simple inequalities. This article provides a review of how to graph and solve compound inequalities.

What is a compound inequality?

A compound inequality is an inequality that combines two simple inequalities. Let's take a look at some examples.

Example with "OR"

x<3  OR  x>5
A number line from negative two to eight by ones. There is an open circle at three with an arrow to the left. There is an open circle at five with an arrow to the right.
So, for example, the numbers 0 and 6 are both solutions of the compound inequality, but the number 4 is not a solution.

Example with "AND"

x>0  AND  x<4
This compound inequality is true for values that are both greater than zero and less than four. Graphically, we represent it like this:
A number line from negative two to eight by ones. There is an open circle at zero with an arrow to the right. There is an open circle at four with an arrow to the left.
So, in this case, 2 is a solution of the compound inequality, but 5 is not because it only satisfies one of the inequalities, not both.
Note: If we wanted to, we could write this compound inequality more simply like this:
0<x<4

Solving compound inequalities

Example with "OR"

Solve for x.
2x+37  OR  2x+9>11
Solving the first inequality for x, we get:
2x+372x4x2
Solving the second inequality for x, we get:
2x+9>112x>2x>1
Graphically, we get:
A number line from negative one to five by ones. There is an open circle at one with an arrow to the right. There is a closed circle at two with an arrow to the right.
So our compound inequality can be expressed as the simple inequality:
x>1
Want to learn more about compound inequalities that use OR statements? Check out this video.

Example with "AND"

Solve for x.
4x39>43  AND 8x+31<23
Solving the first inequality for x, we get:
4x39>434x>4x>1
Solving the second inequality for x, we get:
8x+31<238x<8x<1
Graphically, we get:
A number line from negative three to three by one. There is an open circle at negative one with an arrow to the left and to the right.
Strangely, this means that there are no solutions to the compound inequality because there's no value of x that's both greater than negative one and less than negative one.
Want to learn more about compound inequalities that use AND statements? Check out this video.

Practice

Problem 1
Solve for x.
5x412  OR  12x+54
Choose 1 answer:

Want more practice? Check out this exercise.

Want to join the conversation?

  • blobby green style avatar for user person
    So in a OR inequality, the answer can not be “there are no solutions?
    (17 votes)
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    • stelly blue style avatar for user Kim Seidel
      That's correct. Any solution from either individual inequality becomes a solution for the compound inequality.

      Similarly, with an AND inequality, you can't get a solution of all real numbers because the AND restricts the solution set to only those value in common to both individual inequalities.
      (24 votes)
  • aqualine ultimate style avatar for user Miguel Monteon :/
    how do you solve it with fracttions involved?
    (5 votes)
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    • starky ultimate style avatar for user Agent Raf
      I'll take an example here. Let's say you have 3 <1/2x + 5 < 17. So you would solve this by first subtracting five from both sides using the Subtraction Property of Equality, which would look like this: 3 - 5 < 1/2x + 5 - 5 < 17 - 5 --> -2 < 1/2x < 12. From there, you want to change the 1/2x into x (or 1x), and to do that, you would multiply the fraction to get 1 in order to isolate the variable (for instance, 2/3 would be multiplied by 3/2 to get 1), so the end result would look like this: -2*2 < 1/2x*2 < 12*2, which would lead to the answer of -4 < x < 24.
      (38 votes)
  • blobby green style avatar for user Halie Tarbell
    I am really struggling trying to solve these kinds of problems. When solving OR or AND, what exactly is the solution for the question? Because every time I solve one of these problems I get it wrong but there is no explanation for why. Can someone give me an answer to why?
    (14 votes)
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    • blobby green style avatar for user April Turgutalp
      sometimes I was confused at which way the sign would or is suppose to go. I've noticed that if the bottom of the fraction is minus, then the sign flips. However, if its just the top, it doesn't flip. As long as their is a negative number on the bottom, it seems to always flip the equality sign. Also, if both are negative (top and bottom) then the fraction turns positive but because the negative sign is on the bottom the sign will still flip. OR is more for either or. But AND, has to include a number that will overlap. If it doesn't overlap then it is NO SOLUTIONS and if the number cancels itself out I.E. Greater then one, less than one, then there are also no solutions. I have to literally write the line graph out every time to get it right.
      (7 votes)
  • piceratops seed style avatar for user Bart Kornacki
    Why didn't you swap an inequality with a sign in problem 2 practice while dividing by negative number (-7). This has changed the equation!
    (12 votes)
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  • aqualine ultimate style avatar for user nekk
    I don't quite understand the union part of compound inequalities.
    Even if I find the union of an AND inequality, it seems like more often than not the union solution does not apply to both of the inequalities.
    (7 votes)
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    • mr pants pink style avatar for user STiger24
      compound inequalities are algebra inequalities but, use a line plot.

      So a inequality first should be solved.

      Then you must make a line plot.

      Then you must plot the line plot and show that it is greater than, less than and something like that.

      Anyway after the line plot is done you must answer the question meaning what x or z or y or ect. means.

      I do not know what the union you are talking about.

      Please explain.*
      (11 votes)
  • blobby green style avatar for user yoonjuliagil
    Does the presence of a solution to an inequality depend on whether if the inequality is an 'OR' and an 'AND'?
    (3 votes)
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    • stelly blue style avatar for user Kim Seidel
      Yes! The AND and OR are operations themselves. The AND tells you to find the intersection of the 2 solution sets (final solution is only the solutions in common to both inequalities). The OR tells you to find the union of the 2 solutions sets (all possible solutions to either inequality)
      (16 votes)
  • blobby green style avatar for user Josh
    Can someone give an example of AND that has "many solutions"? I'll be the one to graph it. I just need equations. Thank you.
    (6 votes)
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  • blobby green style avatar for user Christy Brokaw
    How would I write an "or" compound inequality?
    (5 votes)
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  • blobby green style avatar for user Ethan hernandez
    8v - 7 ≤ 10 - 9v ≤ -8v + 10
    (4 votes)
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    • mr pink green style avatar for user David Severin
      Break it into two parts and put back together later. So 8v-7≤10-9y and 10-9v≤-8v+10. On the first, add 9y and add 7 to get 17v ≤ 17, so v ≤1. On the second, you add 9v and subtract 10 to get 0≤v. Putting these together as a union, 0≤v≤1. Values in the range such as 0 gives -7≤10≤10 which is a true statement and 1 gives 1≤1≤2 which is also true. Trying -1 (-15≤19≤18) and 2 (9≤-8≤-6) both of which are false.
      (6 votes)
  • blobby green style avatar for user 2024jvailes
    is this kinda just about number lines
    (6 votes)
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