Question

How do you translate words into an inequality?

Answer 1

Hint: In this question we will deconstruct the question into its constituents and use an example to elaborate on how to translate words into an inequality.

Complete step-by-step solution:
We have to translate words into an inequality; this means that a logical sentence which has a number of variables and fixed quantities are to be represented in the algebraic form in the form of inequalities.
To understand the concept of inequalities, we need to first understand what equality is.
Equality in mathematics is when two quantities which are similar, are equal to one another, the algebraic sign for equality is $ = $, this sign has two terms on the left-hand side and the right-hand side which are equal to one another.
For example, when we say that the value of the variable $x$ is equal to four
It is to be noted that the question specifically mentions the word “equal” therefore, we can write this sentence in the algebraic form as $x = 4$.
Now given this, inequality is the reverse of equality. The two terms on the opposite side are not equal to each other; this in algebra creates the following cases:
Greater than: this means that the value on the left-hand side is greater than the value on the right-hand side. The sign $ > $ is used to represent this.
Lesser than: this means that the value on the left-hand side is smaller than the value on the right-hand side. The sign $ < $ is used to represent this.
Greater than or equal to: this means that the value on the left-hand side is greater or equal to the value on the right-hand side. The sign $ \geqslant $ is used to represent this.
Lesser than or equal to: this means that the value on the left-hand side is lesser than or equal to the value on the right-hand side. The sign $ \leqslant $ is used to represent this.

Note: Let’s consider the sentence “the cost of a mango is more than the cost of an apple”
We have to consider the keyword which is “more than” therefore, algebraically we can write the sentence as $x > y$, where $x$ is the cost of a mango and $y$ is the cost of an apple.