Inequality

:For the socioeconomic sense, see social inequality.

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In mathematics, an inequality is a statement about the relative size or order of two objects. (See also: equality) The notation a < b means that a is less than b and the notation a > b means that a is greater than b. These relations are known as strict inequality; in contrast a ≤ b means that a is less than or equal to b and a ≥ b means that a is greater than or equal to b.

Related Topics:
Mathematics - Equality

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If the sense of the inequality is the same for all values of the variables for which its members are defined, then the inequality is called an "absolute" or "unconditonal" inequality. If the sense of an inequality holds only for certain values of the variables involved, but is reversed or destroyed for other values of the variables, it is called a conditional inequality. The sense of an inequality is not changed if both sides are increased or decreased by the same number, or if both sides are multiplied or divided by a positive number; the sense of an inequality is reversed if both members are multiplied or divided by a negative number.

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Young students sometimes confuse the less-than and greater-than signs, which are mirror images of one another. A commonly-taught mnemonic is that the sign represents a hungry alligator that is trying to eat the larger number; thus, it opens towards 8 in both 3 < 8 and 8 > 3.http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/58428.html

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The notation a >> b means that a is "much greater than" b. What this means exactly can vary, meaning anything from a factor of 100 difference to a ten order of magnitude difference. It is used in relation to equations in which a much greater value will cause the output of the equation to converge on a certain result.

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