SOLUTION: What is an inequality? What is an equality?

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Age -> SOLUTION: What is an inequality? What is an equality?       Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


   



Question 686465: What is an inequality? What is an equality?

Answer by MathLover1(20850) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Equality is when two things are equal. Equations are equalities. Solving them finds the value of the unknown variable; it finds what that variable is equal to.
example:
+5x+-+7+=+23
5x+=+30
x+=+6

Inequalities are written like equations, but when you solve them you end up with a large range of solutions. These will tell you what it is possible for the variable to be, not what it actually is, because you cannot tell from the information given.
example:
+4x+-+13+%3E+7
4x+%3E+20
x+%3E+5
x must be greater than 5
4+-+3x+%3C=++0.....(less than or equal to)
4+%3C=+3x
3x+%3E=+4
x+%3E=+4%2F3
x is greater than or+equal to 4%2F3
52 is not+equal to 13x
x is not+equal to 4