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JEE Main 2026 Preparation: Question Papers, Solutions, Mock Tests & Strategy Unacademy » JEE Study Material » Mathematics » Inequality Symbols

Inequality Symbols

Linear inequalities are the expressions wherein any two values are compared by using the inequality symbols including, ‘’, ‘≤’ or ‘≥’. These values could be numerical or algebraic or a combination of each.

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In mathematics, inequality represents the mathematical expression in which each side isn’t equal. If the relationship makes the non-same comparison between expressions or two numbers, then it is known as inequality in Maths. 

  • In this example, the equal sign “=” within the expression is changed by any of the inequality symbols such as more than symbol (>), much less than symbol (<), extra than, or equal to a symbol (≥), less than or identical to a symbol (≤) or no longer same to image (≠). The exclusive forms of inequalities in Maths are polynomial inequality, rational inequality, and absolute value inequality.

  • The symbols ‘<‘ and ‘>’ explicit the strict inequalities and the symbols ‘≤’ and ‘≥’ denote slack inequalities.

Strict Inequality 

An inequality is strict if replacing any “less than” and “more than” signs with the same signs in no way gives a true expression. For example, x<=y is not strict, whereas x<y is. A strict inequality is an inequality where the inequality symbol is either > (more than) or < (less than). That is, a strict inequality is an inequality that has no equality conditions. For example, a>1 is a strict inequality. But, a>=1 isn’t always a strict inequality.

An example of a well known strict inequality is the Triangle Inequality, which states that in a non -degenerate triangle ABC, the subsequent relation holds:

                                   AB + BC > AC

A non-instance is the Trivial Inequality which states that if x is an actual quantity then x2 >= zero. This inequality isn’t always strict as it has an equality case: whilst x = zero,  x2 = 0.

Slack Inequality 

Mathematical expressions containing the most effective ′≤′  Or ‘≥’ are called slack inequalities.

Instance:  2x + 8 ≤ 9 , 2x+ 4y ≥ 6

Inside the above examples, 2x + 8 ≤ 9  is a linear inequality in a single variable because ‘x’ is the best variable present within the expression.

Further  2x+ 4y ≥ 6, is a linear inequality in variables due to the fact there are variables ‘x’ and ‘y’ are present within the expression.

Some points related to strict and slack inequality 

  • An inequality describes a relationship between two one-of-a-kind values.

  • The notation x<y represents that x is strictly smaller than y in size, while the notation x>y represents that the x is strictly greater than y in size.

  • The notation x ≤ y denotes that x is less than or equal to y while the notation

x ≥ y denotes that x is greater than or equal to y.

  • Inequalities are in particular useful for fixing issues related to minimal or maximum possible values.

  • If each side of the strict or slack inequality is multiplied or divided by the same positive number then the resulting inequality will be true.

  • If each side of strict or slack Inequality is multiplied or divided by the same negative number then the direction of the resulting Inequality will be changed.

The strict Inequality symbol is less than a symbol 

  • A strict inequality is a relation that holds between values when they’re one-of-a-kind. Within the equal way that equations use an equals sign, =, to show that values are equal, inequalities use signs to show that values aren’t identical and to explain their relationship. The strict inequality symbols are < and >.

  • Strict inequalities fluctuate from the notation a not equal to b,  because of this that a is not equal to b.  The not equals to symbol does now not say that one value is more than the other or even that they may be compared in length.

  • In the two sorts of strict inequalities, a isn’t the same as b. To evaluate the scale of the values, there are types of relations:

  1. The notation x < y implies that x is less than y.

  2. The notation x > y implies that x is greater than y.

  • The meaning of those symbols can be easily remembered by way of noting that the “larger” side of the inequality symbol (the open facet) faces the larger range. The “smaller” side of the symbol (the factor) faces the smaller number.

Conclusion 

Any mathematical expressions that include only the symbols < or > are known as the strict inequalities. Whereas any mathematical expressions that include the symbols ≤ or ≥ are known to be the slack inequalities. Here we have discussed the slack inequality and strict inequality in detail. We have also discussed a few important facts related to slack and strict inequality. A strict inequality is a relation that holds the values when they are one kind.

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the JEE Examination Preparation.

How one can identify if the inequality is strict or not?

Ans. Those Inequalities conclude “<”, “≠” or “>” are known as “strict inequalities”, while i...Read full

Which one will be considered slack Inequality?

Ans. Those mathematical expressions conclude these symbols only ‘≤′ or ‘≥’ are known as slac...Read full

What are the 5 inequality symbols, name them?

Ans. The five inequality symbols are greater than symbol (>), less than symbol (<), greater than or equal to a...Read full

Is strictly less than?

Ans. This term is typically used in the context of inequalities — the phrase “strictly much less than” means ...Read full

Which symbols represent the less than and greater than?

Ans. < is the symbol used for less than and, > this one will use for greater than.

Ans. Those Inequalities conclude “<”, “≠” or “>” are known as “strict inequalities”, while inequalities considering “≤” or “≥” are not. In case you “switch” the two facets of inequality you must then opposite the direction of the inequality symbol.

Ans. Those mathematical expressions conclude these symbols only ‘≤′ or ‘≥’ are known as slack inequalities.

Ans. The five inequality symbols are greater than symbol (>), less than symbol (<), greater than or equal to a symbol (≥), less than or equal to a symbol (≤), and not equal to a symbol (≠).

Ans. This term is typically used in the context of inequalities — the phrase “strictly much less than” means “less than and no longer equal to” (likewise “strictly greater than” means “greater than and no longer equal to”).

Ans. < is the symbol used for less than and, > this one will use for greater than.

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