Chapter 2

Equations,
Inequalities, and
Problem Solving
Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall.

Chapter Sections
2.1 Linear Equations in One Variable
2.2 An Introduction to Problem Solving
2.3 Formulas and Problem Solving
2.4 Linear Inequalities and Problem Solving
2.5 Sets and Compound Inequalities
2.6 Absolute Value Equations
2.7 Absolute Value Inequalities

Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall.

2.7

Absolute Value
Inequalities
Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall.

Absolute Value Inequalities

If a is a positive number, then X < a is
equivalent to a < x < a.

Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall.

Example
Solve x + 4 < 6
6 < x + 4 < 6
6 4 < x + 4 4 < 6 4
10 < x < 2
(10, 2)

Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall.

Example
Solve x 3 + 6 7
x 3 1
1 x 3 1
2x4
[2, 4]

Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall.

Example
Solve 8x 3 < 2
No solution.
An absolute value cannot be less than a
negative number, since it cant be negative.

Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall.

Absolute Value Inequalities

If a is a positive number, then X > a is equivalent
to X > a or X < a.

Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall.

Example
Solve 10 + 3x + 1 > 2
10 + 3x > 1
10 + 3x < 1 or 10 + 3x > 1
3x < 11 or 3x > 9
11
x < or x > 3
3

11
(, ) (3,
3

Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall.

Example
Solve x + 2 0
The solution is all real numbers, since all
absolute values are non-negative.
Any value for x we substitute into the
inequality will give us a true statement.

Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall.

10

Example
7 x
4
Solve
2

7 x
7 x
4 or
4
2
2
7 x 8 or 7 x 8
x 15 or x 1
(, 15] [1, )
Graph of solution
(, 15] [1, )
Copyright 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall.

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