Why do we reverse/flip the inequality sign?

You have probably remembered in Algebra that if we multiply an inequality by a negative number, then the inequality sign should be flipped or reversed. For example, if we want to find the solution of the inequality -\frac{1}{2}x > 8, we multiply both sides by -2  and reverse the greater than sign giving us x < -16. Now, why did the > sign became <?

If we generalize the statements above, suppose we have two numbers, say, a and b such that a > b, if we multiply them to a negative number c, instead of having  ac > bc,  the answer should be ac < bc.

Before we proceed with our discussion, let us first remember 2 basic concepts we have learned in elementary mathematics:

  1. The number line is arranged in such a way that the negative numbers are at the left hand side of 0 and the positive numbers are at its right hand side such as shown in Figure 1.
  2. If we have 2 numbers a and b, then  a > b if a is at the right of b on the number line. For example, in Figure 1, 2 > -1 since 2 is at the right of -1.
Number line

Figure 1 – The number line

For specific values, let’s choose a = 2 and b = -1 as shown in the diagram above and choose c = -1. Note that we will  just use these values for discussion purposes, but we may take any values. It would help, if we think of a and b as two points on the number line with a as a blue point on the right b, a red point.

And note that before multiplying with a negative number, VALUE OF BLUE POINT > VALUE OF RED POINT.

Since a and b are variables, we need to multiply all the numbers on the number line by -1. This is to ensure that whatever values we choose for a and b, we multiply them by -1. If we multiply every number on the number line by -1, the geometric consequence would be a number line with negative numbers on the right hand side of 0, and positive numbers at the left hand side of 0 as shown in Figure 2.

num4-1

Figure 2 – Afer multiplying all numbers on the number line by -1

But negative numbers should be at the left hand side of 0 so we reverse its position by rotating it 180 degrees from any point of rotation (for example, 0).  The resulting figure is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 2 - All numbers in the number line were multiplied by -1

Notice that the blue and red points changed order and that the blue point is now at the left of the red point. Therefore, VALUE OF BLUE POINTVALUE OF RED POINT. That is, why the inequality sign was reversed.

Summarizing, multiplying an inequality by a negative number is the same as reversing their order on the number line. That is, if a, b and c are real numbers, a > b and c<0, then ac < bc.

Our summary above is actually a mathematical theorem. The proof of this is shown below. It is a very easy proof, so, I suppose, that you would be able to understand it.

Theorem: If a, b and c are real numbers, with a > b and c<0, then ac < bc.

Proof:

Subtracting b from both sides, we have a - b>0.

Now, a - b>0 means a - b is positive.

Since c is negative, therefore, c(a - b) is negative (negative multiplied by positive is negative)

Since c(a - b) is negative, therefore, c(a - b) < 0.

Distributing c, we have ac - bc < 0.

Adding bc to both sides, we have ac < bc which is what we want to show .\blacksquare

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