Solving for intervals without using NumberLinePlot

Question

I've been struggling to find a way to find an interval solution to an equation/inequality. I know mathematica can do this since for example,

NumberLinePlot[Sin[x] < 0.5, {x, 0, 6.28}]

gives a plot of the correct interval. How can I have mathematica just give me the Interval instead of the plot?

Answer 1

Note that

foo = Reduce[{
    Sin[x] < 1/2,
    0 <= x <= 2 π
  }, x, Reals]
(* 0 <= x < π/6 || (5 π)/6 < x <= 2 π *)

almost gives you what you want. We can rewrite this to be in interval form,

ineqsToIntervals[x_Or] := List @@ (
    x /. {
      Inequality[a_, Less, _, Less, b_] :> 
        Row[{"(", a, ",", b, ")"}],
      Inequality[a_, LessEqual, _, Less, b_] :> 
        Row[{"[", a, ",", b, ")"}],
      Inequality[a_, Less, _, LessEqual, b_] :> 
        Row[{"(", a, ",", b, "]"}],
      Inequality[a_, LessEqual, _, LessEqual, b_] :> 
        Row[{"[", a, ",", b, "]"}]
    }
)

so that ineqsToIntervals[foo] gives $\{ [0,\frac{\pi}{6}), (\frac{5\pi}{6},2\pi] \}$.

Answer 2

You might try

List @@ (Drop[#, {2, -2}]& /@ List @@@ Reduce[Sin[x] < 1/2 && 0 < x < 2 π, x])

{{0, π/6}, {(5 π)/6, 2 π}}