Chapter 2

EQUATIONS, INEQUALITIES AND ABSOLUTE VALUES Chapter 2
2.1 Equations
2.2 Inequalities
2.3 Absolute Values
2.1 Equations
a) Indices, surds and logarithms

 state the rule of indices
 explain the meaning of a surd and its conjugate, and to carry out algebraic
operation on surds.
 state the law of logarithms.
log b M
 change the base of logarithm using log a M  .
log b a
Indices
We can write 2  2  2  2  2 as 25. This is known as the power (sometimes called an

exponent or index); a to the power x is written as a x .
Rules of Indices Examples

mn 5 2
a a  a
m n
3 3  3
5 2
37
m 2
a 2 1
n
 a mn 7
 2 2  7  2 5  5
a 2 2
a  m n
 a mn  4  3 2
  4
32
  4  46
6
abn  a nb n 62  2  32  22 32

n 7
a an n n 2 27 7
   n a b    7  2 3
7
b b 3 3
10
Example 1
Simplify
x y .
x  y 2
2
Example 2
1
(1  m) 2 1
Show that
1 1
 1 .
 m
(1  m)  (1  m)
2 2
Example 3 1
Given that 7(8 p )  9(5q ) and 7(16 p 1 )  12(5q ) . Show that 2p 
12
Surds
 number expressed in terms of ROOT sign and an IRRATIONAL number.
 Examples : 2 , 5 , and 7
Properties of Surds Examples
ab  a  b 24  6  4
a a 25 25
 
b b 5 5
n
an  a 5
25  2
m n
a  mn a 3
64  2 3
64  6 64  2
a b  c b  a  c  b 4 2  7 2  4  7 2
a b  c b  a  c  b 6 3  3 3  6  3 3
11
Example 4
Using the properties of surds, expand and simplify the expressions below:
a)  3  2 2 3  2 
b) 3  2 3  2 
Rationalising the Denominator

 The process of eliminating surd in the denominator by multiplying the numerator and the
denominator of a fraction.
 Is needed to change the denominator to rational number (no square roots)
Surds Conjugate
a a , a
 a a , a
3 a 3 a , 3 a
1 a 1 a
1 a 1 a
1 3 a 1 3 a
a b a b
a b a b
a b c  
a b  c , a  b c 
Example 5
2
a)
3
3 5
b)
2 3
2
c)
3 1
3 2
d) 
3 1 2 2  1 12
Example 6
Express each of the following with a rational denominator.
3 1
a)
3 1
8 5 2
b)
5 2 2
EXERCISES
Simplify the following by rationalizing the denominator
5 3
a)
52
1 1
b) 
2 7 3 2 7 3
1
 
c) 2
3 1
Final answer
a) 11  5 5
6
b)
19
1
c) 1  3
2
Logarithms
13
THE LAWS OF LOGARITHMS
Rules Examples
1) log a xy  log a x  log a y log a 4 x  log a 4  log a x
x 12
2) log a  log a x  log a y log a  log a 12  log a 7
y 7
3) log a x m  m log a x log a 3x  x log a 3
Example 7
Simplify
1
a) log 2 9  log 2 7  log 2 3 b)3 log a x  2 log a 1  log a y 3  3
2
Change of Base of a Logarithms

THEOREM 1
log b c
log a c 
log b a
THEOREM 2
1
log a c 
log C a
Example 8
Evaluate the value of log 7 12
Example 9
Change the base from 4 to 10 for log 4 10
14
The Meaning of ln M and log M

Common Logarithms and Natural Logarithms
The most common bases used for logarithms are 10 and e. The symbol e represents an irrational
number, where e  2.718281828. Logarithms with base 10 are called common logarithm whereas
logarithms with base e are called natural logarithms.
Important results :
1. log a 1  0 ; log 1  0 ; ln 1  0
2. log a a  1 ; log 10  1 ; ln e  1
3. If log a b  x , then b  a x  a log a b
In general: b  a log a b
In particular: 10log b  b and eln b  b
EXERCISE
1. Write the following as single logarithms:
a) log 8  log 6  log 9
b) 2 log a  3 log b  log c
Answer:
a) log 12
a 2b 3
b) log
c
2. Simplify the following :

1
a) log 2 25  log 2 3  2 log 2 15
2
b) log a p 2  2 log a q  2
Answer:
1
a) log 2 or  log 2 15
15
pq
b) 2 log a
a
15
b) Solve equations involving surds, indices and logarithms
Surd
Square both Check

Rearrange Solve for x Answer
sides
3x  1  2  3x  1 
2
 22 3x  1  4 LHS  3(1)  1
3x  3  4
x 1  2  RHS
x 1
Example 10:
Find the values of x of which satisfy the following equations.
a) 7  x  x 5
b) 3  3x  1  x .
c) x  2  2x  3  8
16
Indices
INDICES
SAME DIFFERENT
BASE BASE
2 TERMS 3 TERMS Have NO Common

Common Base Base
Compare Substituition Compare Using

Index Method Index logarithm
2 3x  2 6  
3 3x
2
 
 10 3 x  3  0 52x 
1 7 x  12
3x  6 25 log 7 x  log 12
Let u  3 x
 25 
1
x2
2x
5 x log 7  log 12
3u 2  10u  3  0 2
5 2x
5
3u  1u  3  0 x
log 12
2 x  2 log 7
1
u u 3 x 1 x  1.277
3
1 x
3x  3 3
3
x  1 x  1
Example 11:
a) 8 x  32
4 x 5
1
b) 9  3 x   
 3
c) 32 x  4  32 x1  25
17
Example 12:
a) 2 x1  3 x
b) 2 x  23  3 x  5 x
Example 13:
Find the value of x of which satisfy the following equation.
a) 32 x 10  3 x  9  0
b) 3  9 x  5  3 x  2  0
c) 2 x  2 x3  9  0
Logarithm
LOG  INDEX CHANGE BASE

log a x  b  x  a b
log b a 
log c a
log c b
log 7 x  3  x  73
SOLVING LOGARITHM EQUATION
Different Same Base Terms of Log at Coefficient of Log

Base LHS/ Constant must be 1 (use
RHS Power Rule)
Check Solve for x Change to Index Simplify LHS

Answer Form using properties of
Log
18
SOLVING LOGARITHM (variable Base)
Change the Substitution Quadratic Solve Quadratic

variable Base Method (Let u) Equation Equation
u)
Substitute u Solve Solve Quadratic

for x Equation
Example 14:
Solve the following equations:
a) log p x  b b) log x y  2 c) log 5 p  y
Example 15:
a) log 4 x  log 4 2  3
b) log 3 x  log 3 5  2
c) log 2 x 4  8
Example 16:
a) log x  log( x  1)  log( 3x  12)
b) 2 log 9 x  log 9 (6 x  1)  0
c) ln 10  ln( 7  x)  ln x
Example 17:
a) log 2 2x  log 4 x  3
b) log 4 x  log x 4  2.5
19
EXERCISES:
1. Solve the equations.
(a) 2 x  32(2 x )  12 ( x  2 or x  3)
8 ( x  2 or x  4)
( b) 2 x  6
x
2
(c) 2 x5e 3 ln x  9 x  10  0 ( x  2.5 or x  2)
(d) 3e 2 ln x  5eln x  2 1
(x  )
3
2. Solve the equations.
(a) 2 log b 4  log b 5  log b 10  log b x ( x  8)

1
(b) log 3 x  4 log x 3  3  0 ( x  , x  3)
81
(c) 3 ln 2 x- 4  2 ln 2 x ( x  27.299 )
20
2.2 Inequalities
 Properties of inequalities
 Linear inequalities
 Quadratic inequalities
 Rational inequalities
Properties of Inequalities
Properties of inequalities Example
If a > b where a, b  R and c  R, then
1. a + c > b + c 4 > 2 and c = – 3,

adding a number to both sides of an then 4 + (–3) > 2 + (–3)
inequality will not change the sign 1 > –1
2. ac > bc if c > 0 –1 > –2 and c = 2,
multiplying a positive number to an then –1( 2) > – 2(2)
inequality will not change the sign –2 > –4
3. ac < bc if c < 0 6 > 3 and c = – 1 ,
multiplying a negative number to an then 6(–1) < 3(– 1)
inequality will change the sign –6 > –3
3>2
1 1
4.  , and a, b  0 then 1  1
a b 3 2
4
Inequality Signs:
• > is greater than
• > is greater than or equal to
• < is less than
• < is less than or equal to
21
Linear Inequalities
 In solving linear inequalities, we divide (or multiply) both expressions on the left and
right hand side with the same positive number.
 If you multiply or divide by a negative number, this will reverse the direction of the
inequality.
Example 18:
Solve the following linear inequalities.
a) 3x  27 b)  3x  27 c) 2 x  12  4
d)  10  5  3x  2 e) 7  2  2x  8
EXERCISES:
Solve the following inequalities.
 3x  12 x x
a) b)  2 c)  2
4 5
Answer :
a) x  4 b) x  8 c) x  10
Quadratic Inequalities
Definition: Quadratic inequalities can be written as:
where a, b and c are real numbers and a  0.
22
Steps for solving quadratic inequalities:
Collect all the terms Factorise the quadratic Find zeroes Solve using
to one side of the expression. of factors graphical/
inequalities. (ZOF). sign table
method.
Example 19:
(a) x 2  5 x  6
STEP 1:
x 2  5x  6  0
Collect all the terms to one
side of the inequality
STEP 2:
( x  2)( x  3)  0
Factorise the quadratic
expression
STEP 3: ZOF : 2,3
Find ZOF
STEP 4: GRAPHICAL METHOD
Solve i) Sketch the graph
ii) Shade the region

The graph above the x-axis represent y > 0
The graph below the x-axis represent y < 0
23
iii) Write the solution

Interval: (,2]  [3, )
Solution set: {x : x  2 or x  3}
SIGN TABLE METHOD

i) Put the ZOF between intervals
ii) Test by selecting any number from each interval region and
insert it in each factor.
iii) Write the solution

Interval: (,2]  [3, )
Solution set: {x : x  2 or x  3}
24
(b)  x 2  5 x  4  0 (c) x 2  3x  4
(d) 2 x 2  5 x  3  0 (e) 2x 2  5x  3  0
EXERCISES:
a) x 2  5 x  6 b) x 2  5 x  0
c)  x 2  3x  2 d ) x 2  7 x  10  0
e) x 2  6 x  0 f )  x 2  4x  3
Answer:
a)  6,1 b)  ,5  0,  

c) [1,2] d )  5,2 e)  ,0  6,  
f ) 1,3 
Rational Inequalities
 Inequalities that can be expressed in the form
where Qx   0
P( x) P( x) P( x) P( x)
 0,  0, 0 and  0,
Q( x) Q( x ) Q( x) Q( x )
where P (x ) and Q(x) are linear or quadratic expression.

 Do not use cross multiplication
Steps for solving rational inequalities:
25
Example 20: Solve the following inequalities.

(a) 3 x  1
2
x3
STEP 1: Collect all terms to one side of 3x  1
the inequality 20
x3
STEP 2: Equalize the denominator
3x  1  2( x  3)
0
x 3
STEP 3: Factorise the expression x7
0
x 3
STEP 4: Find ZOF ZOF: -7, 3
STEP 5: Solve by using sign table method
Solution :  ,7   3,  
3 1 x2  6x  9
(b)  (c) 0
3x  4 x  5 x7
3 1 x2  2x  8
(d)  (e) 0
x 1 x  2 ( x  8)( x  1)
x2  4x
(f)  x 1
x4
26
EXERCISES:
x2 x  42 0
1 2
(a) 2 (b) (c) 
x2 x3 x 2 x 3
Answer:
(a) {x : x  2}  {x  6} (b)  ,3 4 (c) 1,2  3, 
2.3 Absolute Values
 Definition of Absolute Values

 Properties of Absolute Values
 Absolute Values Equations
 Absolute Values Inequalities
Introduction
Let’s look at the number line :
 The absolute value of x, denoted by x

 x Is the distance of x from zero
 This is why absolute value is always positive

 Absolute value only asks “how far?’ not, “in which direction?”
27
Example:
x Is the distance of x from zero
a)
For instance, since both –2 and 2 are two units from zero, we have | –2 | = | 2 | = 2
b)
| –4 | = | 4 | = 4
Definition of Absolute Values
 The absolute value x of a real number x is defined by
Let’ Practice
1) x  4, x  4  4
2) x  5, x   5  5
3) x  3   , x  3      3  0.412
NOTE:
The equivalent definition of absolute value is

x  x2
Example 21:
Give meaning to:
a)  x  2 2
28
b) 3x  82
Properties of Absolute Values
Properties Example
1. a  0 10  10  0, 0  0  0,  10  10  0
2. a   a 3  3 3
3. a  b  b  a (4)  5  5  (4)  1  1
4. a  b  b  a 6  (2)  8  8, (2)  6   8  8
5. ab  a b 7  (9)   63  63, (7  9  7(9)  63
a a 12 12 12
6.  with b  0   4  4,  4
b b 3 -3 3
Absolute Values Equations
DEFINITION
x  a if and only if x  a or x  a where a is a positive number.
On a number line, we represent x  a as shown below
i) ax  b  c ii) ax  b  c x  d
29
Example 22:
a) x  8 b) 3x  4  5
c) x  1  10  2 x d) 2 x  1  x  5
iii ) ax2  bx  c  d iv) ax  b  cx  d
ax  b
iv ) e
cx  d
Example 23:
a) x 2  5  3 b) 2 x 2  3x  1
c) 2 x  1  x  6 d) x  7  6  2 x
4 x2
e) 7 f) 3
x7 x 1
EXERCISES: Answer:
1) 5 x  3  37 1) x  8
2) x  1  2 x  1 2) x  2,0
3) 2 x  2  3  5 3) x  6,2
30
Absolute Values Inequalities

Definition: For any positive real number a,
Absolute Values Definition Number Lines Notes
1) x  a if and only x   a or x  a Case A:
GreatOR
2) x  a if and only x   a or x  a
3) x  a if and only a  x  a Case B:
4) x  a if and only a  x  a LessAND
Case A
, 
greatOR
Solve the following inequalities 3  2x  5
STEP SOLUTION
Question
3  2x  5
S1: Define the absolute values
31
S2: Draw a hexsagon  2x  2  0  2x  8  0

S3: Collect all terms to one side  2x  2 - 2x  8
S4: Simplify and factorise
x  1 x4
S5: Find ZOF  1, 4
S6: Solve
( ,  1]  [4,  )
Type 1: Linear Inequality and Absolute Values

Example 24:
Solve the following inequalities
4x  1  2x  3
Type 2: Quadratic Inequality and Absolute Values

Example 25:
x 2  48  5
Type 3: Rational Inequality and Absolute Values

Example 26:
x 1
2
x2
32
Case B
, 
lessAND
Solve the following linear absolute values inequality 2 x  3  10

STEP SOLUTION
Question
2 x  3  10
less AND
S1: Define the absolute values
 10  2 x  3  10
 10  2 x  3 and 2 x  3  10
S2: Draw a hexagon
S3: Collect all terms to one side 2 x  3  10 2 x  3  10
2 x  7 2 x  13
7 13
S4: Simplify and factorise x x
2 2
7 13
S5: Find ZOF  ,
2 2
S6: Solve
7 13

2 2
Answer
 7 13 
 2 , 2 
33
Type 1: Linear Inequality and Absolute Values

Example 27:
Solve the following inequalities:
x6 3
Type 2: Quadratic Inequality and Absolute Values

Example 28:
x 2  6x  4  4
Type 3: Rational Inequality and Absolute Values

Example 29:
1
3
x 1
EXERCISES: Answer:
13 5
1.  2 x  4  9 1. (  ∞ , )∪ ( , ∞ )
2 2
2. x  2  5 2. [ 3,7]
3. 2 x  6  8 3. ( ∞ ,7]∪ [1, ∞ )
4. x  2  x 2  4 4. ( ∞ ,2)∪ (2,1 )∪ (3, ∞ )
2  5x 2 2 14
5.  5. (∞ , ]∪ [ , ∞ )
4 3 15 15
 2  2
6.   3 x  2 6. (∞ ,  ]∪ [  , ∞ )
3 3 3 3
34
Method of Solving Inequalities Involving Absolute Values on Both Sides
Example 30:
Solve the following inequalities by using squaring both sides:
a) x  3  x  1 c) x  5  3x  1
b) x  4  3  2 x
EXERCISES: Answer:
Solve the following inequalities by using squaring both sides:

1. 2 x  5  10  3x 1. ∞,3∪ 5, ∞
2. x  5  x  7 2. ∞ ,1
35

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Chapter 2

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EQUATIONS, INEQUALITIES AND ABSOLUTE VALUES Chapter 2

a) Indices, surds and logarithms

We can write 2  2  2  2  2 as 25. This is known as the power (sometimes called an

Rules of Indices Examples

abn  a nb n 62  2  32  22 32

Properties of Surds Examples

Rationalising the Denominator

THE LAWS OF LOGARITHMS

1) log a xy  log a x  log a y log a 4 x  log a 4  log a x

3) log a x m  m log a x log a 3x  x log a 3

Change of Base of a Logarithms

The Meaning of ln M and log M

b) 2 log a  3 log b  log c

2. Simplify the following :

b) Solve equations involving surds, indices and logarithms

Square both Check

2 TERMS 3 TERMS Have NO Common

Compare Substituition Compare Using

LOG  INDEX CHANGE BASE

SOLVING LOGARITHM EQUATION

Different Same Base Terms of Log at Coefficient of Log

Check Solve for x Change to Index Simplify LHS

SOLVING LOGARITHM (variable Base)

Change the Substitution Quadratic Solve Quadratic

Substitute u Solve Solve Quadratic

a) log p x  b b) log x y  2 c) log 5 p  y

(c) 2 x5e 3 ln x  9 x  10  0 ( x  2.5 or x  2)

(a) 2 log b 4  log b 5  log b 10  log b x ( x  8)

Properties of inequalities Example

If a > b where a, b  R and c  R, then

1. a + c > b + c 4 > 2 and c = – 3,

Definition: Quadratic inequalities can be written as:

where a, b and c are real numbers and a  0.

Steps for solving quadratic inequalities:

ii) Shade the region

iii) Write the solution

SIGN TABLE METHOD

iii) Write the solution

a)  6,1 b)  ,5  0,  

where P (x ) and Q(x) are linear or quadratic expression.

Steps for solving rational inequalities:

Example 20: Solve the following inequalities.

Solution :  ,7   3,  

(a) {x : x  2}  {x  6} (b)  ,3 4 (c) 1,2  3, 

2.3 Absolute Values

 Definition of Absolute Values

Let’s look at the number line :

 The absolute value of x, denoted by x

 This is why absolute value is always positive

x Is the distance of x from zero

Definition of Absolute Values

 The absolute value x of a real number x is defined by

The equivalent definition of absolute value is

Properties of Absolute Values

Absolute Values Equations

x  a if and only if x  a or x  a where a is a positive number.

On a number line, we represent x  a as shown below

iii ) ax2  bx  c  d iv) ax  b  cx  d

Absolute Values Inequalities

1) x  a if and only x   a or x  a Case A:

3) x  a if and only a  x  a Case B:

4) x  a if and only a  x  a LessAND