In this video, we will be learning how to solve compound inequalities. After you finish this lesson, view all of our Algebra 1 lessons and practice problems.

“And” inequalities are drawn toward one another

“Or” inequalities are drawn away from one another

For Example:

 3x+5\textless1 or 2x-8\geq12

Solve the inequalities individually first

 3x+5\textless1                                                          2x-8\geq12

 3x+5-5\textless1-5                                       2x-8+8\geq12+8

 \frac{3x}{3}\textless\frac{-4}{3}                                                                 \frac{2x}{2}\geq\frac{20}{2}

 x\textless\frac{-4}{3}                            or                                   x\geq10

comp ineq

Examples of Solving Compound Inequalities

Example 1

 8x+8\geq -64 and -7-8x\geq79

Solve the inequalities individually first

 8x+8\geq -64                                                          -7-8x\geq-79

 8x+8\geq -64+8                                                   -7-8x+7\geq-79+7

 \frac{8x}{8}\geq\frac{-72}{8}                                                                   \frac{-8x}{-8}\geq\frac{-72}{-8}

 x\geq-9                                and                              x\geq9

Example 2

 2x\textless10 or \dfrac{x}{2}\geq3

Solve the inequalities individually first

2x\textless10                                                        \dfrac{x}{2}\geq3

\dfrac {2x}{2}\textless\dfrac{10}{2}                                                       x\geq(3)(2)

 x\textless5                               or                         x\geq6

Video-Lesson Transcript

Let’s go over solving compound inequalities.

Compound inequality means we have two inequalities that are associated.

For example:

2x + 5 \textless 7 and 3x + 8 \geq {-21}

Here we have two constraints for the value of x.

Let’s solve the first one first.

2x + 5 \textless 7

Let’s subtract 5 from both sides.

2x + 5 - 5 \textless 7 - 5
2x \textless 2

To solve for x, let’s divide both sides by 2.

\dfrac{2x}{2} \textless \dfrac{2}{2}

Now we have

x \textless 1

But x is not just less than 1. It should also satisfy the other inequality.

3x + 8 \geq {-21}

So let’s solve this by first subtracting 8 on both sides.

3x + 8 - 8 \geq {-21} - 8
3x \geq {-29}

Now let’s solve for x by dividing both sides by 3.

\dfrac{3x}{3} \geq \dfrac{-29}{3}
x \geq \dfrac{-21}{3}

which we can also write as an improper fraction

x \geq -9\dfrac{2}{3}

If we graph this, draw a number line with the lowest number at -9\dfrac{2}{3} and the highest number is 1.

Solving Compound Inequalities

Since x is less than 1, let’s draw an open circle on number 1. We also know that x \geq -9\dfrac{2}{3}, so let’s draw a solid circle on -9\dfrac{2}{3} then draw a line between the two points.

So our solution can be written as:

-9\dfrac{2}{3} \leq x \textless 1

Our next example is written as one long inequality.

2 \leq 3x + 8 \textless 14

So we’ll solve this as a whole at once.

Let’s start off with subtracting 8 from all sides of the inequality.

2 - 8 \leq 3x + 8 - 8 \textless 14 - 8
-6 \leq 3x \textless 6

Now, let’s solve for x by dividing the inequality by 3.

\dfrac{-6}{3} \leq \dfrac{3x}{3} \textless \dfrac{6}{3}

Now we have

-2 \leq x \textless 2

Let’s graph the solution by drawing a number line with the lowest number as -2 and the highest number is 2 because x is everything between the two.

Let’s draw a solid circle at number -2 to represent the equal sign and an open circle at 2. Then draw a line in between.

Now, it’s not always the same number.

Let’s have another example

2 \leq 3x + 8 \textless 20

Let’s solve it the same way as above.

2 - 8 \leq 3x + 8 - 8 \textless 20 - 8
-6 \leq 3x \textless 12

Then

\dfrac{-6}{3} \leq \dfrac{3x}{3} \textless \dfrac{12}{3}

So the answer here is

-2 \leq x \textless 4

This time our number line starts at -2 and ends with 4.

The circle on -2 is solid because it has an equal sign and an open circle at 4.

Let’s move on to another type of compound inequality.

Here we have “or”.

For example:

3x + 5 \textless 1 or 2x - 8 \geq 12

We have to solve this individually.

Let’s start with the one on the left.

3x + 5 \textless 1

Subtract 5 from both sides

3x + 5 - 5 \textless 1 - 5
3x \textless -4

To solve for x, divide both sides by 3.

\dfrac{3x}{3} \textless \dfrac{-4}{3}
x \textless -1\dfrac{1}{3}

Now let’s solve the other one.

2x - 8 \geq 12

Let’s add 8 on both sides

2x - 8 + 8 \geq 12 + 8
2x \geq 20

Let’s solve for x by dividing both sides by 2.

\dfrac{2x}{2} \geq \dfrac{20}{2}
x \geq 10

Now our answer is

x \textless -1\dfrac{1}{3} or x \geq 10

Let’s draw line number with -1\dfrac{1}{3} as the lowest number and the highest number is 10.

We draw an open circle at -1\dfrac{1}{3} and draw a line going to the left. Then draw a solid circle at 10 and a line going to the right.

Notice that the lines we drew are opposite of each other.

Because the inequality we have is an “or”. So the numbers between the two are not the answer.

Our answer satisfies one or the other, not both.