1.7: SOLVING INEQUALITIES ABUJIYA, M.R.

1.7: SOLVING INEQUALITIES

Section Outline:
▪ Definition and properties ▪ Linear inequalities ▪ Nonlinear inequalities
▪ Rational inequalities ▪ Some related concepts

I. Definition and Properties

We have learned how to solve different kinds of equations in some previous sections. However,
some mathematics problems lead to inequalities rather than equations. Inequalities are very similar
to equations except that one of the symbols, , , ,  , is used instead of the equal sign. Below are
some basic definitions and properties of inequalities.

Solution Set: the set of all real numbers for which the inequality is a TRUE statement
Equivalent inequalities: inequalities with the same solution set.
Properties of inequalities: Let a, b, c, and d be real numbers, then
o Addition:
equivalent
▪ ab  ac  bc
▪ If a  b and c  d , then ac  bd
o Multiplication:
▪ If c  0, then ab  ac  bc
▪ If c  0, then ab  ac  bc
1 1
o Reciprocal: If a  0 and b  0, then ab  
a b
o Transitive: If a  b and b  c, then ac

II. Linear Inequalities

Solving linear inequalities is very similar to solving linear equations, except for one detail: we flip
the inequality sign whenever you multiply or divide the inequality by a negative number.

Two-Part Inequalities

Example 1: Solve each of the following inequalities.

3 x  7
(a) 2 x  8  14 (b) 6  7 x   3  x  2  (c)   2 x  8
5

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1.7: SOLVING INEQUALITIES ABUJIYA, M.R.

Three-Part Inequalities

Example 2: Find the solution set in interval notion for each compound inequality.
1 3x  4 1
(a) 1  6x  8  4 (b) 11   3x  1   17 (c)   
2 5 4

III. Nonlinear Inequalities

To solve nonlinear inequalities involving squares and other powers of the variable, we use the
critical value method as outlined in the following guideline.
inequality


1. Write the inequality in the form: polynomial     0

2. Factor the polynomial.
3. Find the critical values {zeros of the polynomial: x = a}
Opposite to Same as
4. Use test values and the sign diagram: sign of (x – a) coefficient of coefficient of
x x
a
Example 3: Solve each inequality.

(c) x  x  1  x  2   x  3  0
2 3 4
(a) 28 x  15 x 2  12 (b) x 3  3x 2  16x  48

IV. Rational Inequalities

Rational inequalities are the inequalities that involve fractions and can also be solves by critical
value method using the following guidelines.

N  x
inequality


1. Write the inequality in the form:  0

D  x
2. Factor the N  x  and D  x 

3. Find the critical values {zeros of N(x): x = a, and D(x): x = b}

4. Put open circle around the zeros of D  x 

5. Use test values and the sign diagram: signs of (x – a) and (x – b) Opposite to Same as
coefficient of coefficient of
x x
o
a|b
Example 4: Solve the rational inequalities:
 x  1  x  2 
6 7
5x  9 4 3
(a)  3 (b)  (c)  0
x5 2x 1 x  x  7
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1.7: SOLVING INEQUALITIES ABUJIYA, M.R.

V. Some related concepts

Some problems in algebra lead to inequalities. Some examples of such problems are related to
discriminant of quadratic equation (section 1.4) and the domain of radical expression with even
index (section P.7).

Example 5: Find the value(s) of k such that the equation 3x 2  2  k  1 x  3  0 has two distinct
real solutions.

14
 1 
Example 6: Find the domain of each expression (a) 3x  5 x  2
2
and (b)  2 
 x  5 x  14 

___________ Exercises __________

1. Find the solution set of 0  x2  4  5

2. Solve the inequality 4 x3  7 x 2  2 x  0

9x  8
3. Find the solution set of  0
4x 2  25
1 3
4. Find the solution set of 2 
x  2x  3 x  3
5. Find the value of k such that the equation 3x 2  2  k  1 x   3 has no real solution

6. Find the value of k such that the equation 2 x 2  kx  7  0 has two distinct real solutions.

7. Find all possible values of k for which x 2  2k 2 x  k 2  0 no real solution

3  2x  x2
8. Solve the rational inequality  0
x2  4x  3

4 x  x2  3
9. Find the domain of the radical expression 4
x2  x  6

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