Identify the interval notation given: \(\left(-\infty, 2\right]\). This represents all values starting from negative infinity up to and including 2.
Recall that \(-\infty\) is not a number but indicates that the values extend indefinitely to the left on the number line.
The square bracket \(]\) at 2 means that 2 is included in the interval, so the inequality will use a 'less than or equal to' symbol.
Translate the interval into an inequality by letting \(x\) represent any number in the interval. Since \(x\) can be any number less than or equal to 2, write the inequality as \(x \leq 2\).
Thus, the inequality statement equivalent to the interval \(\left(-\infty, 2\right]\) is \(x \leq 2\).