Zadocf6notes

POLYNOMIAL-Inequalities
Quick Revision Inequality involving Quadratic Functions which cannot be factorised Use the method of completing the squares 1. Find the set of values of x such that x 2 + 2 x + 5 > 0 . Solution x2 + 2x + 5 > 0 x 2 + 2 x + 12 12 + 5 > 0

( x + 1) 1 + 5 > 0 ( x + 1) 2 + 4 > 0 2 2 Since ( x + 1) 0 x R, hence ( x + 1) + 4 > 0 x R

The solution set is { x : x R } 2. Find the solution set for the inequality x 2 - 2 x - 4 0 Solution x2 - 2x - 4 0 x 2 2 x + ( 1) ( 1) 4 0
2 2

( x 1) 2 1 4 0 ( x 1) 2 5 0 ( x 1) 2 5
( x 1)
2

5 5

x 1

Using Using

5 x 1 5 The solution set is { x : 11 5 x 1+ 5

}
1 5x < 1 x3 .

Inequality involving rational functions 1. Find the set of values of x that satisfies the inequality Solution . 1 5 x x3 1 1 <0 5 x x3 ( x 3) ( 5 x ) <0 ( 5 x) ( x 3) < 1 Still in fraction form. Do not cross out the denominator.

( 5 x) ( x 3)

2x 8

<0

< 0 means ( ) on the number line

Consider 2 x 8 > 0, 5 x > 0, x 3 > 0 x > 4, 5 > x, x>3

Consider the positive factors.

Zadocf6notes

x<5

| | 3 ( ) 4

| 5 ( )

x>3 x>4 x
Lines indicate positive values.

The solution set is { x : 3 < x < 4 x > 5} 2. Find the solution set for the inequality Solution 1 4x + 1 > 1 3 + 2x

1 1 > 4x + 1 3 + 2x
1 4x + 1 3 + 2x ( 3 + 2 x ) ( 4 x + 1) 1 >0 >0 >0

( 4 x + 1) ( 3 + 2 x )
2 2x

>0 means ( + ) on the number line Consider the positive factors.

Consider 2 2 x > 0, 4 x + 1 > 0, 3 + 2 x > 0

( 4 x + 1) ( 3 + 2 x )

(+)

x< 1
|
Solution

| (+)

|
3 2 1 1 4

x >

3 2 1 4

The solution set is x : x < 3. Find the solution set for x + 1 4x

<1

< x <1

x >

4x

x+

<1 1 - 1< 0 <0 <0

x+

4x

4 x 2 - 4 x +1 4x

( 2 x - 1)
4x
2

Since ( 2 x 1) 0 x R, hence 4 x < 0 x <0 The solution set is { x : x < 0 , x R }

( 2x - 1 )
4x

< 0 if 4 < 0 x

Zadocf6notes Inequality involving cubic functions 1. Find the solution set for the inequality x 3 + 3 x 2 - 4 0 Solution x 3 + 3 x2 - 4 0
3 2 Let f ( x ) = x + 3 x 4

Factorise the cubic function.

f ( 1) = 1 + 3 4 = 0 so ( x 1) is a factor of f(x).

3 2 2 f ( x ) = x + 3 x 4 = ( x 1) x + bx + 4

Comparing the coefficients of x : 3 = b 1 b=4 3 2 2 2 Thus, f ( x ) = x + 3 x 4 = ( x 1) x + 4 x + 4 = ( x 1) ( x + 2 )

Since ( x + 2 ) 0 for all real values of x, thus ( x 1) 0

x 1

( x - 1) ( x +)2

( if ) x - 1 0

The solution set is { x : x 1, x R } 2. Find the set of values of x such that 16 < x 3 4 x2 + 4 x 16 < 0 . Solution 3 2 16 < x 4 x + 4 x 16 < 0 . Split the inequality into 2 parts: and Consider x 3 4 x2 + 4 x 16 < 0
3 2 Let f ( x ) = x 4 x + 4 x 16

So ( x 4 ) is a factor of f(x).
f ( x ) = x 4 x + 4 x 16
3 2

f ( 4 ) = 64 64 + 16 16 = 0

Factorise the cubic function.

= ( x 4 ) x + bx + 4
2

Comparing the coefficients of x2 : 4 = b 4 b=0 3 2 2 Thus, f ( x ) = x 4 x + 4 x 16 = ( x 4 ) x + 4

x 3 4 x 2 + 4 x 16 < 0 ( x 4 ) x2 + 4 < 0 Since ( x + 4 ) >0 for all real values of x, thus ( x 4 ) < 0
2

x<4

( x - 4) ( 2 x +) 4 < 0 ( if ) x - 4

Consider x 4 x + 4 x 16 > 16 x 3 4 x2 + 4 x > 0

x x2 4 x + 4 > 0 x ( x 2) > 0
2

Since ( x 2 ) > 0 , x 2 for all real values of x, thus x ( x 2 ) > 0 for x > 0 , x 2
2 2

x<4

The solution set is { x : 0 < x < 2 2 < x < 4}

|////////////////////// | | 0 2 4

x > 0, x 2 x

Find the intersection of the two set of values x < 4 and x > 0, x 2

Zadocf6notes Inequality involving Modulus Functions Recall: Definition

x x 0 x = - x x <0 x <a - a < x <a

x > a x > a x <- a

4x 1 > 3 x 4x 1> 3 x 4x 1< ( 3 x) 5x > 4 3 x < 2 or 4 2 x> x< 5 3 2 4 The solution set is x : x < x > 3 5
Using

2. Find the set of values of x that satisfies the inequality 3 x + 2 x + 1. Solution

3x + 2 x + 1 ( x + 1) 3 x + 2 x + 1 x 1 3 x + 2 and 3 x + 2 x + 1 4 x 3 2 x 1 3 1 x x 4 2 0
The solution set is x :

Using Split the inequality into 2 parts

|//////////////////////|

Find the intersection of the two set of values and

3 1 <x< 4 2

Zadocf6notes Inequality when both sides are positive Since both sides are positive, then squaring both sides is allowed. 1. Find the solution set for the inequality x - 4 > 2 x - 1 . Solution

x - 4 > 2x - 1

( x - 4) > ( 2 x - 1) ( x - 4) - ( 2 x - 1) > 0 ( ( x - 4) - ( 2 x - 1) ) ( ( x - 4) +( 2 x - 1) ) > 0 ( - x - 3) ( 3 x - 5 ) > 0 ( x + 3) ( 3 x - 5 ) < 0

Since both sides are positive, square both sides.

Do not expand. Use

The solution set is x : 3 < x <

2. Find the solution set for the inequality

3x - 2 <2 . x +2

Solution Since x + 2 is positive x R , multiply both sides by x + 2

3x - 2 < 2 x +2

( 3 x - 2) < ( 2( x + 2) )
2 2

( 3 x - 2) - ( 2 ( x + 2) ) < 0
2

( ( 3x -

2) - ( 2 ( x + 2) ) ) ( ( 3 x - 2) +( 2 ( x + 2) ) ) < 0

( x - 6) ( 5 x + 2) < 0
|
The solution set is x :

( ) | x

2 < x < 6 5

Zadocf6notes Solving inequality using graphical method 1. On the same axes, sketch the graphs of y = x 3 and y = 5 x . Hence or otherwise, solve the inequality x 3 < 5 x ; where y = 5 x denotes the positive value of the square root. Solution

y y = |x 3| 3 2 1 | 1 | | | 3 4 5 x

Consider x 3 = 5 x

( x 3) 2 = (
x2 5x + 4 = 0

y = 5 x
0
2

5x

Since both sides are positive, square both sides.

x2 6 x + 9 = 5 x

( x 1) ( x 4 ) = 0
x =1, 4 From the graph, x 3 < 5 x for 1 < x < 4 2. Solve the equation 4 x = x 1 . On the same axes, sketch the graphs of y = 4 x and y = x 1 . Hence or otherwise, solve the inequality 4 x > x 1 y Solution 4 x = x 1

( 4 ( x) )
2

= ( x 1)

16 x 2 = x 2 2 x + 1 15 x + 2 x 1 = 0

y = |x 1|

y=4 x

( 5 x 1) ( 3 x + 1) = 0
x= 1 5 , 1 3

| 1

Since both sides are positive, square both sides.

4 x > x 1

From the graph the solution is x <

1 1 or x > 3 5

16

Zadocf6notes EXERCISE