Inequalities

March 12, 2023

Scheme of work: GCSE Foundation: Year 10: Term 6: Inequalities

Prerequisite Knowledge

Order positive and negative integers
apply the four operations, including formal written methods, to integers, both positive and negative;
solve linear equations in one unknown algebraically (including those with the unknown on both sides of the equation)

Success Criteria

Solve linear inequalities in one variable;
represent the solution set on a number line;
understand and use the concepts and vocabulary of expressions, equations, formulae, identities and inequalities

Key Concepts

Knowledge of <,>, >= and <= notation are critical to this topic. Numbers which are less or greater than but not equal to are represented on a number line with a hollow circle. Full circles are used when an inequality can be equal to a number.
Inequations have a set of solutions whereas equations have distinct solutions.
Inequations can be solved using the balance method.
When dividing or multiplying both sides of an inequality by a negative number the sign is reversed.

Common Misconceptions

Students are often confused with the direction of the inequality sign. Use the number line to show < represents less than and > means greater than.
Inequalities such as 5 < x <= 10 represent x as any value greater than 5 and less than or equal to 10. Encourage students to read such inequalities in two directions i.e., 5 < x and x <+ 10.

Inequalities Resources

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