Lesson 02 · Intersection & union

Compound Inequalities

Combine two one-dimensional constraints by keeping either their shared overlap or every value accepted by at least one of them.

The learner question

What happens when x must obey two inequalities at once?

Each inequality contributes its own region. The connector tells us how to combine them: AND keeps only shared membership; OR keeps membership in either region.

Set logic
AND → intersection ∩
OR → union ∪

This same intersection/union language will reappear later in systems, domains, probability, and set theory.

Worked model

AND means survive both filters.

Take x > −2 and x ≤ 5. The first constraint accepts everything right of −2. The second accepts everything at or left of 5. The values accepted by both form one bounded interval.

x > −2
-10-8-6-4-20246810
x ≤ 5
-10-8-6-4-20246810
−2 < x ≤ 5

The chained form compresses two comparisons around the same variable. It means exactly the intersection of the two number-line regions.

AND keeps overlap
A AND B → A ∩ B

A value must satisfy both inequalities. If the regions never overlap, the solution set is empty.

OR keeps either
A OR B → A ∪ B

A value may satisfy the first inequality, the second inequality, or both. Separated pieces can remain separated.

Region combiner

Decide what survives the two filters.

x > −2
x ≤ 5
connected by AND
-10-8-6-4-20246810
-10-8-6-4-20246810
How should the regions combine?
Check transferFresh cases, same underlying idea
Compound Inequalities check1 / 3

What does x ≥ 1 AND x < 6 describe?