# Math Help - question about inequalities with negative numbers and square roots

1. ## question about inequalities with negative numbers and square roots

let's say you have an inequality such as this:

-1< -2x2 < 1 and it reduces to 1/square root of 2 > x > -1/square root of 2

I understand why the inequalities can flip around but I forgot why you don't end with an imaginary number due to taking
the square root of a negative number.

2. ## Re: question about inequalities with negative numbers and square roots

Originally Posted by matnov
let's say you have an inequality such as this:
-1< -2x2 < 1 and it reduces to 1/square root of 2 > x > -1/square root of 2
Note that $-1<-2x^2<1$ can be written as $|-2x^2|<1$ so $|x|<\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$.

3. ## Re: question about inequalities with negative numbers and square roots

thank you, I think I understand. great site by the way - but can anyone refer me to some free software that will let me post mathematical notation on this forum? thanks

4. ## Re: question about inequalities with negative numbers and square roots

Originally Posted by matnov
thank you, I think I understand. great site by the way - but can anyone refer me to some free software that will let me post mathematical notation on this forum? thanks
It is LaTeX. Go to the LaTeX subforum.