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Math 101a - Topic 1
Math 101a - Topic 1
Math 101a - Topic 1
INEQUALITIES
INTRODUCTION
The advent of these two significant contributions marks the beginning of modern
mathematics.
VARIABLES
The Set of Real Numbers consists of the rational numbers (the fractions a /b , where a and b
are integers) and the irrational numbers (such as √2 = 1.4142 . . . and 𝜋 = 3.14159 . . .),
which are not ratios of integers. Imaginary numbers, of the form x + y√−1, will not be
considered. Since no confusion can result, the word number will always mean real number
here.
|𝑥 | = 𝑥 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 𝑖𝑠 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟
Example:
− |𝑥 | ≤ 𝑥 ≤ |𝑥 |
− |𝑥 | = |𝑥 | and |𝑥 − 𝑦 | = |𝑦 − 𝑥 |
|𝑥 | = |𝑦| implies 𝑥 = ± 𝑦
𝑥 |𝑥 |
|𝑥𝑦| = |𝑥 | ∙ |𝑦| | |= 𝑖𝑓 𝑦 ≠ 0
𝑦 |𝑦 |
A Linear Coordinate System is a graphical representation of the real numbers as the points
of a straight line. To each number corresponds one and only one point, and conversely.
To set up a linear coordinate system on a given line: (1) select any point of the line as the
origin (corresponding to 0); (2) choose a positive direction (indicated by an arrow); and
(3) choose a fixed distance as a unit of measure. If x is a positive number, find the point
corresponding to x by moving a distance of x units from the origin in the positive direction.
If x is negative, find the point corresponding to x by moving a distance of |x| units from the
origin in the negative direction. (See Fig. 1-1.)
The number assigned to a point on such a line is called the coordinate of that point. We
often will make no distinction between a point and its coordinate. Thus, we might refer to
“the point 3” rather than to “the point with coordinate 3.”
If points P, and P2 on the line have coordinates x1 rind x2 (as in Fig. 1-2), then
By a half-open interval we mean an open interval (a, b) together with one of its endpoints.
There are two such intervals: [a, b) is the set of all x such that a ≤ 𝑥 < b, and (a, b] is the set
of all x such that a < x ≤ b.
|𝑥 | ≤ 𝑐 𝑖𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑓 − 𝑐 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑐
Infinite Intervals. Let a be any number. The set of all points x such that a < x is denoted by
(a, ∞) the set of all points x such that a ≤ x is denoted by [a, ∞). Similarly, (- ∞ >, b) denotes
the set of all points x such that x < b, and (-∞ , b] denotes the set of all x such that x ≤ 𝑏.
Inequalities such as 2x — 3 > 0 and 5 < 3x + 10 ≤ 16 define intervals on a line, with respect
to a given coordinate system.
1. Solve 2x — 3 > 0.
Solution:
2x — 3 > 0
2x -3 > 0 (Adding 3)
2. Solve 5 < 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏𝟎 ≤ 𝟏𝟔
Solution:
5 < 3𝑥 + 10 ≤ 16
Solution:
-2x + 3 < 7
Note, in the last step, that division by a negative number reverses an inequality (as does
multiplication by a negative number.)
4. Describe and diagram the following intervals, and write their interval notation:
(a) - 3 < x < 5
(b) 2≤ x ≤ 6
(c) - 4 < x ≤ 0
(d) x > 5
(e) x ≤ 2
(a) All numbers greater than — 3 and less than 5; the interval notation is ( — 3, 5):
(b) All numbers equal to or greater than 2 and less than or equal to 6; [2, 6]:
Solutions:
(a) This is equivalent to — 2 < z < 2, defining the open interval (— 2, 2):
—2 2
(b) This is equivalent to x > 3 or x < - 3, defining the union of the infinite intervals (3,
∞) and (- ∞ , -3).
—3 3
(c) This is equivalent to saying that the distance between z and 3 is less than 1, or that 2
< x < 4, which defines the open interval (2, 4):
—5 1