Final answer:
Constraints within a problem are represented by inequalities which use symbols to show the relationships between quantities. For example, a budget constraint in economics can be expressed as an inequality showing the limit of affordable choices determined by income and prices.
Step-by-step explanation:
Constraints or conditions within a problem situation are represented in an inequality by expressing the relationships between different quantities. Inequality symbols like <, >, <=, and >= are used to show that one quantity is less than, greater than, less than or equal to, or greater than or equal to another quantity. For example, in a budget constraint situation, an inequality can represent the maximum spending level by stating that the total cost of chosen goods and services must be less than or equal to the available income.
An economist might use a budget constraint to illustrate a trade-off in consumer choices. If the relative price of goods determines the slope of the budget constraint, the inequality will show the limit of affordable choices. In income inequality studies, a Lorenz curve can visually represent the distribution of income among a population, but the underlying data can also be expressed through inequalities to describe the shares of income held by various portions of that population.