GRE Math : Inequalities

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Inequalities

For how many positive integers, , is it true that 

Possible Answers:

More than

None

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Since  is positive, we can divide both sides of the inequality by :

 or .

Example Question #2 : Inequalities

Solve for .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For the second equation, solve for  in terms of .

Plug this value of y into the first equation.

Example Question #3 : Inequalities

Solve for the -intercept:

3y+11\geq 5y+6x-1

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Don't forget to switch the inequality direction if you multiply or divide by a negative.

3y+11\geq 5y+6x-1

-2y+11\geq6x-1

-2y\geq6x-12

-\frac{1}{2}(-2y\geq 6x-12)

y\leq -3x+6

Now that we have the equation in slope-intercept form, we can see that the y-intercept is 6.

Example Question #4 : Inequalities

Solve for :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Begin by adding  to both sides, this will get the variable isolated:

Or...

Next, divide both sides by :

Notice that when you divide by a negative number, you need to flip the inequality sign!

Example Question #5 : Inequalities

Each of the following is equivalent to  

xy/z * (5(x + y))  EXCEPT:

 

Possible Answers:

5x² + y²/z

xy(5y + 5x)/z

xy(5x + 5y)/z

5x²y + 5xy²/z

Correct answer:

5x² + y²/z

Explanation:

Choice a is equivalent because we can say that technically we are multiplying two fractions together: (xy)/z and (5(x + y))/1.  We multiply the numerators together and the denominators together and end up with xy (5x + 5y)/z.  xy (5y + 5x)/z is also equivalent because it is only simplifying what is inside the parentheses and switching the order- the commutative property tells us this is still the same expression.  5x²y + 5xy²/z is equivalent as it is just a simplified version when the numerators are multiplied out.  Choice 5x² + y²/z is not equivalent because it does not account for all the variables that were in the given expression and it does not use FOIL correctly.

Example Question #6 : Inequalities

Let S be the set of numbers that contains all of values of x such that 2x + 4 < 8. Let T contain all of the values of x such that -2x +3 < 8. What is the sum of all of the integer values that belong to the intersection of S and T?

Possible Answers:

-2

0

-3

2

-7

Correct answer:

-2

Explanation:

First, we need to find all of the values that are in the set S, and then we need to find the values in T. Once we do this, we must find the numbers in the intersection of S and T, which means we must find the values contained in BOTH sets S and T.

S contains all of the values of x such that 2x + 4 < 8. We need to solve this inequality.

2x + 4 < 8

Subtract 4 from both sides.

2x < 4

Divide by 2.

x < 2

Thus, S contains all of the values of x that are less than (but not equal to) 2. 

Now, we need to do the same thing to find the values contained in T.

-2x + 3 < 8

Subtract 3 from both sides.

-2x < 5

Divide both sides by -2. Remember, when multiplying or dividing an inequality by a negative number, we must switch the sign.

x > -5/2

Therefore, T contains all of the values of x that are greater than -5/2, or -2.5.

Next, we must find the values that are contained in both S and T. In order to be in both sets, these numbers must be less than 2, but also greater than -2.5. Thus, the intersection of S and T consists of all numbers between -2.5 and 2.

The question asks us to find the sum of the integers in the intersection of S and T. This means we must find all of the integers between -2.5 and 2.

The integers between -2.5 and 2 are the following: -2, -1, 0, and 1. We cannot include 2, because the values in S are LESS than but not equal to 2. 

Lastly, we add up the values -2, -1, 0, and 1. The sum of these is -2.

The answer is -2. 

Example Question #7 : Inequalities

What is the solution set of the inequality \dpi{100} \small 3x+8<35 ?

Possible Answers:

\dpi{100} \small x<35

\dpi{100} \small x>27

\dpi{100} \small x>9

\dpi{100} \small x<9

\dpi{100} \small x<27

Correct answer:

\dpi{100} \small x<9

Explanation:

We simplify this inequality similarly to how we would simplify an equation

\dpi{100} \small 3x+8-8<35-8

\dpi{100} \small \frac{3x}{3}<\frac{27}{3}

Thus \dpi{100} \small x<9

Example Question #6 : Inequalities

What is a solution set of the inequality ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to find the solution set, we solve  as we would an equation:

Therefore, the solution set is any value of .

Example Question #8 : Inequalities

Quantity A:

The smallest possible value for 

Quantity B:

The smallest possible value for 

Which of the following is true?

Possible Answers:

Quantity A is larger.

The two quantities are equal.

Quantity B is larger.

A comparison cannot be detemined from the given information.

Correct answer:

Quantity A is larger.

Explanation:

Recall that when you have an absolute value and an inequality like

,

this is the same as saying that  must be between  and .  You can rewrite it:

To solve this, you just apply your modifications to each and every part of the inequality.

First, subtract :

Then, divide by :

Next, do the same for the other equation.

becomes...

Then, subtract :

Then, divide by :

Thus, the smallest value for  is , while the smallest value for  is .  Therefore, quantity A is greater.

Example Question #3 : Inequalities

The cost, in cents, of manufacturing \dpi{100} \small x pencils is \dpi{100} \small 1200+20x, where 1200 is the number of cents required to run the factory regardless of the number of pencils made, and 20 represents the per-unit cost, in cents, of making each pencil. The pencils sell for 50 cents each. What number of pencils would need to be sold so that the revenue received is at least equal to the manufacturing cost? 

Possible Answers:

\dpi{100} \small 30

\dpi{100} \small 27

\dpi{100} \small 36

\dpi{100} \small 33

\dpi{100} \small 40

Correct answer:

\dpi{100} \small 40

Explanation:

If each pencil sells at 50 cents, \dpi{100} \small x pencils will sell at \dpi{100} \small 50x. The smallest value of \dpi{100} \small x such that

 \dpi{100} \small 50x\geq 1200+20x

\dpi{100} \small x\geq 40

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