The square bracket means "include this value" and a curved parenthesis means "exclude this value". We cannot include infinity as it is not a number, so we always use parenthesis with either infinity.
is the same as which is also the same as which may help lead to set up the interval notation answer.
example : Lets say u have 3 chairs (c) and 2 tables (t) and 4 stools (s)... 4c + 4t + 3s = 4(3) + 4(2) + 3(4) = 12 + 8 + 12 = 32 legs...then u would have 32 legs