CHAPTER 2 : INEQUALITIES & ABSOLUTE VALUES

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TOPIC 2:
EQUATIONS,
INEQUALITIES & LEARNING OUTCOMES
ABSOLUTE
VALUES

At the end of this topic, students should be able to:

a) Relate the properties of inequalities
2.1 Inequalities
b) Find linear inequalities
c) Find quadratic inequalities by algebraic or graphical approach.

At the end of this topic, students should be able to:

a) State the properties of absolute values:
a  0;
i.
a  a ;
ii.
ab  ba
iii.
a b  ba ;
iv.
ab  a b ; and
v.
a a
 where b  0
b b
vi.
2.2 Absolute
Values b) Solve absolute equations of the forms
ax  b  c;
i.
ax  b  cx  d ;
ii.
ax  b  cx  d ;
iii.
ax 2  bx  c  d ;
iv.

c) Solve inequalities of the forms:

ax  b  cx  d ; and
i.
ax  b  cx  d
ii.

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 2.1 INEQUALITIES

2.1 (a) PROPERTIES OF INEQUALITIES

Properties Example
Let a  7 & b  4 and
If a  b then c  5, c  0 & c  5, c  0

i) a  c  b  c ,c  0

ii) ac  bc ,c  0
iii) ac  bc ,c  0
1 1
 , and a, b  0
iv) a b

2.1 (b) FINDING LINEAR INEQUALITIES

Example 1: Find

a. 3 x  6  x  5 b. 2  3 x  x  9
3
3  3 x  2   2 x  2 1  2 x  x  6  1  3x
c. d. 2
a. 3 x  6  x  5 b. 2  3 x  x  9

3  3 x  2   2 x  2 1  2 x  3
x  6  1  3x
c.
d. 2

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2.1 (c) FINDING QUADRATIC INEQUALITIES

Method:

1. Graphical method (**)

2. Analytical method

● Table of signs (**)

● Positive Real number line

Example 2 : Find x  4 x  3  0 by using graphical method.

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STEP 1: Factorise………………..* ( x  1)( x  3)  0 ………………..*

STEP 2: Using graphical

method (U)
x  3 x  1

STEP 3: Refer to the *

STEP 4: ● Final answer in set  x : x  3

or x  1
notation OR ●
● (,3)  (1, )
● Final answer in
interval form.

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Example 3: Find x  4 x  3  0 by using
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a) Table of signs. b) Number line

Example x  4 x  3  0
2
Solution a) Table of signs.

STEP 1: Factorise………………..* ( x  1)( x  3)  0 ………………..*

the first factor is ( x  1)

x 1  0
x  1..................(1)
Using Table of signs
STEP 2: the second factor is ( x  3)

x3 0
x  3.....................(2)

LET
● Draw table of signs
● choose 3 suitable
A = ( x  1)
numbers
STEP 3: ● determine the sign B= ( x  3)
(+or-) AXB
● find the product of
the signs Refer * and write the final answer in set notation OR
interval notation form

● Final answer in set

●  x : x  3 or x  1
notation OR
STEP 4:
● Final answer in
● (,3)  (1, )
interval form

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 Example x  4 x  3  0
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Solution b) Number Line.

STEP 1: Factorise………………..* ( x  1)( x  3)  0 ………………..*

Using Number Line (+)

+ve………..>o
the first factor is ( x  1)  0
x  1....... 1

STEP 2:
the second factor is ( x  3)  0

x  3.....................  2 
+ve………..+

● Draw 2 number
lines
● put sign + on the
STEP 3: line
● put sign - (no
line)
● product of signs

Refer * and write the final answer in set notation OR

interval notation form

● Final answer in set  x : x  3 or x  1

notation OR ●
STEP 4:
● Final answer in
● (,3)  (1, )
interval form

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Example 4 (a): Find
a) 2 x  5 x  12  0 b) 5  2 x  3 x  0
2 2

Solution a)

ANSWER:
x :  4  x  3 2 
; x 

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Example 4 (b): Find
a) 2 x  5 x  12  0 b) 5  2 x  3 x  0
2 2

Solution b)

ANSWER:
x : x  1  x  5 3 ; x 
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 2.2 ABSOLUTE VALUES

2.2 (a) Properties of absolute values

x , x  0 Example :
(i ) x  3 3 & 3  3
 x , x  0
ii)

x  x2
iii) The equivalent definition of absolute value is

Example :

3  32 & 3   32

2.2 (a) Properties of absolute values

Properties Example: Let say a  3 b  2

a 0 3 0
a. a.

a  a 3  3  3
b. b.

a b  b a 3 2   23 1
c. c.

ba  ab  2  3  3  (2)  5

d. d.

ab  a  b 3  (2)  3   2  6
e. e.

a a 3 3 3
  
b b 2 2 2
f. f.
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2.2 (b) Solving absolute equations of the forms

x p ** is equivalent to x  p OR

x  p
x 3

Example 5: Solve the equation

x3  2 3x  5  4 2x  3  9  x
a. b. c.
x 2  3x  8  2 x2  6 x  3  5
d. x  5  2 x  10 e. f.
g. x  3  2 x  1 h. 5  2 x  x  8

Solution a: Solution b:

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Example 5: Solve the equation

x3  2 3x  5  4 2x  3  9  x
a. b. c.
x  5  2 x  10 x 2  3x  8  2 x2  6 x  3  5
d. e. f.
g. x  3  2 x  1 h. 5  2 x  x  8
Solution c: Solution d:

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Example 5: Solve the equation

x3  2 3x  5  4 2x  3  9  x
a. b. c.
x  5  2 x  10 x 2  3x  8  2 x2  6 x  3  5
d. e. f.
g. x  3  2 x  1 h. 5  2 x  x  8

Solution e: Solution f:

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Example 5: Solve the equation

x3  2 3x  5  4 2x  3  9  x
a. b. c.
x  5  2 x  10 x 2  3x  8  2 x2  6 x  3  5
d. e. f.
g. x  3  2 x  1 h. 5  2 x  x  8

Solution g: Solution h:

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2.2 (c) Solving Inequalities of the forms

x p ** is equivalent to  p  x  p
a.
x   p AND x  p
x 3

b.
x p ** is equivalent to  p  x  p

x   p AND x  p
x 3

x p ** is equivalent to x   p OR x p
c.

x 3

d.
x p ** is equivalent to x   p OR

x p
x 3

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Example 6: Solve
x 2
a. (using Properties of inequalities a)
3x  5  4
b. (using Properties of inequalities a)
2x  3  9
c. (using Properties of inequalities b)
7  3x  2
d. (using Properties of inequalities b)
Solution a: Solution b:

Solution c: Solution d:

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Example 7: Solve
x 2
a. (using Properties of inequalities c)
3x  5  4
b. (using Properties of inequalities c)
2x  3  9
c. (using Properties of inequalities d)
7  3x  2
d. (using Properties of inequalities d)
Solution a: Solution b:

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Solution c: Solution d:

Example 8: Solve

x  1  3x  1 2x  5  x  3
a) b)
x  3  2x  1 5x  2  x  5
c) d)
Solution a: Solution b:

ANSWER  x  1 ANSWER  ,   @ ALL REAL NUMBER

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Solution c: Solution d:

ANSWER  x  2 3 ANSWER
 1

 2
7
 x 
4

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Reinforcement Exercise
2  15 28 
ax  4  2 1  x   8  5  x  , 
1.The interval for the inequalities b is  4 5  where
a and b 
.
1
Answer : a  , b3
2
2. Find the set of values of x that satisfies the inequality |2x + 1| < 3x + 2 .
 3
Answer :  x : x   
 5

2 x 2  3 x  35  30
3. Solve .
 13 5 
Answer :  ,  , 1, 5
 2 2 
2 7 7
x 
4. Find the solution interval of 3 8 2 .
 105 63 
Answer :   ,
 16 16 
2
5  4x  x 1
5. Find the set values of x for of 3 .
 9 6
Answer :  x :   x   
 7 5
6. Given y = (5x – 2)(x – 5) + 18.
(a) Find the values of x such that y = 0.
(b) Solve the inequality y < 46.

Answer :  a  x  7 , x4 , b  3 , 6 

5  5 
3x  2  2 x  1
7. Solve .
 3
Answer :   ,   1,  
 5

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