Question

What is the difference between an algebraic equation and an algebraic inequality?

Answer 1

An equation
The word says it all: equal.
In an equation, the left and right part are equal to each other. you might have the equation:
`2x+5 = 3x-7`
There is an `x` for which this is true. By solving this equation, you can find it. (see this as a challenge)

An inequality
The word says it all: inequal => NOT equal.
In an inequality, there are other symbols between the left and the right part. These symbols don't signify equality, but inequality. You have symbols like:

• Greater than `>`
• Smaller than `<`
• Greater than or equal to `>=`
• Smaller than or equal to `<=`

There usage is just as you might expect from their English meanings.
`2x+5 <= 3x-7`
Means that there is an `x` for which it is true, that `2x+5` is less than or equal to `3x-7`. (See this as a challenge as well)

Hope this helped. Feel free to ask any follow up questions.