Equations and Inequalities

Calculus Preliminaries
Prof. Kenneth James T. Nuguid

April 17, 2013

Prof. Kenneth James T. Nuguid

Calculus Preliminaries

Equations and Inequalities

Equations
To solve applied problems, we first translate to mathematical
language, usually an equation or an inequality.
Definition: Equation
An equation is a mathematical statement indicating two algebraic
expressions are equal.
Principles of Equality
If a = b and assuming c 6= 0 then
i. a c = b c
ii. ac = bc
iii. a/c = b/c
iv. ac = b c

v. c a = c b
vi. logc a = logc b
Prof. Kenneth James T. Nuguid

Calculus Preliminaries

Equations and Inequalities

Examples
Example 1. 56 x + 10 = 12 x + 2.
Solution: We first multiply on both sides by 6 to clear of fractions.
5
1
6( x + 10) = 6( x + 2)
6
2
5x + 60 = 3x + 12
48 = 8x
1
1
48 = 8x
8
8
6 = x.
Exercise 1. Solve 87 x + 5 = 14 x 2.

Prof. Kenneth James T. Nuguid

Calculus Preliminaries

Equations and Inequalities

Equations

Principle of Zero Products

For any numbers a and b, ab = 0 if and only if a = 0 or b = 0
Example 2. Solve 3x(x 2)(5x + 4) = 0.
Solution:

3x = 0

or

x 2=0

or

x =0

or

x =2

or

5x + 4 = 0

Therefore, the solutions or roots are 0, 2 and 45 .

Exercise 2. Solve 5x(x + 2)(2x 3) = 0.

Prof. Kenneth James T. Nuguid

Calculus Preliminaries

4
x = .
5

Equations and Inequalities

More Equations
Example 3. Solve 4x 3 = x.
Solution:
4x 3 = x
4x 3 x = 0
x(4x 2 1) = 0
x(2x 1)(2x + 1) = 0
x =0

or

x =0

or

2x 1 = 0
1
x=
2

or
or

Therefore, the solutions or roots are 0,

Exercise 3a. Solve x 2 + x = 12.
Exercise 3b. Solve x 3 = x.
Prof. Kenneth James T. Nuguid

2x + 1 = 0

1
2

and 12 .

Calculus Preliminaries

1
x = .
2

Equations and Inequalities

Inequalities

Definition: Inequality
An inequality is a mathematical statement indicating two
algebraic expressions are unequal.
Principles of Inequality
If a < b is true and assuming c 6= 0 then
i. a c < b c
ii. ac < bc for any positive c
iii. ac > bc for any negative c

Prof. Kenneth James T. Nuguid

Calculus Preliminaries

Equations and Inequalities

Examples
Example 4. 17 8x 5x 4.
Solution:
17 8x 5x 4
8x 5x 21
13x 21
1
1
(13x) (21)
13
13
21
x .
13
Exercise 4a. Solve 3x < 11 2x.
Exercise 4b. Solve 16 7x 10x 4.

Prof. Kenneth James T. Nuguid

Calculus Preliminaries

Equations and Inequalities

Applied Problems
Example 5a. An investment is made at 14% compounded annually.
It grows to P826.50 at the end of 1 year. How much was invested
originally?
Solution: We first translate to an equation:
(Prinicipal) +14% (Principal) = 826.50
| {z }
| {z }
x
+14%
x
= 826.50.
Now we solve the equation:
x + 14%x = 826.50
x + 0.14x = 826.50
x(1 + 0.14) = 826.50
1.14x = 826.50
826.50
x=
= 725.
1.14
Prof. Kenneth James T. Nuguid

Calculus Preliminaries

Equations and Inequalities

Applied Problems
Example 5b. Raggs, Ltd., a clothing firm, determines that its total
revenue, in pesos, from the sale of x suits is given by
200x + 50.
Determine the number of suits that the firm must sel so that its
total revenue will be more than P70,050.
Solution: We first translate to an inequality and solve:
200x + 50 > 70, 050
200x > 70, 000
x > 350.
Thus, the companys total revenue will be more than P70,050
when it sells more than 350 suits.
Prof. Kenneth James T. Nuguid

Calculus Preliminaries

Equations and Inequalities

More Exercises

Exercise 5a. An investment is made at 11% compounded annually.

It grows to P721.50 at the end of 1 year. How much was invested
originally?
Exercise 5b. A firm determines that the total revenue, in pesos,
from the sale of x units of a product is given by
3x + 1000.
Determine the number of units that must be sold so that its
revenue will be more than P22,000.

Prof. Kenneth James T. Nuguid

Calculus Preliminaries

Equations and Inequalities

Intervals
Certain sets of real numbers, called intervals, occur frequently in
calculus and correspond geometrically to line segments.

Figure : This table lists the nine types of intervals with the assumption
that a < b.
Prof. Kenneth James T. Nuguid

Calculus Preliminaries

Equations and Inequalities

Examples

Example 6a. Solve the inequality 1 + x < 7x + 5.

Solution:
1 5 + x x < 7x x + 5 5
4 < 6x
1
1
(4) < (6x)
6
6
2
< x.
3
The solution set is the set of all numbers greater than 32 , i.e. the
solution set is the interval ( 23 , ).

Prof. Kenneth James T. Nuguid

Calculus Preliminaries

Equations and Inequalities

Examples
Example 6b. Solve the inequalities 4 3x 2 < 13.
Solution:
4 3x 2 < 13
6 3x < 15
2x <5
Therefore, the solution set is [2, 5).
Example 6c. Solve the inequalities x 2 5x + 6 0.
Solution: First we factor the LHS:
(x 2)(x 3) 0
We know that the equation (x 2)(x 3) 0 has solutions 2 and
3.
Prof. Kenneth James T. Nuguid

Calculus Preliminaries

Equations and Inequalities

Examples
The numbers 2 and 3 divide the real line into three intervals:
(, 2) (2, 3) (3, )
On each of these intervals we determine the signs of the factors
and obtain:

Figure : This table shows the sign of each factor and the product on each
interval.

Then we read from the chart that (x 2)(x 3) is negative when

2 < x < 3. Thus, the solution set is [2, 3].
Prof. Kenneth James T. Nuguid

Calculus Preliminaries

Equations and Inequalities

Examples
Example 6d. Solve x 3 + 3x 2 > 4x.
Solution: First we take all nonzero terms to one side of the
inequality sign and factor the resulting expression:
x 3 + 3x 2 4x > 0
x(x 1)(x + 4) > 0
As in Example 6c we use the roots of the equation
x(x 1)(x + 4) = 0 which are x = 4, 0 and 1 to divide the real
line into intervals:
(, 4) (4, 0) (0, 1) (1, )

Prof. Kenneth James T. Nuguid

Calculus Preliminaries

Equations and Inequalities

Examples
On each of these intervals we determine the signs of the factors
and obtain:

Figure : This table shows the sign of each factor and the product on each
interval.

Then we read from the chart that x(x 1)(x + 4) is positive when
x < 4 or x > 1. Thus, the solution set is (4, 0) (1, ).

Prof. Kenneth James T. Nuguid

Calculus Preliminaries

Equations and Inequalities

Examples

Example 6e. Solve x1 < 4.

Solution:
Consider x > 0.
Multiplying both sides by x and 14 , we get x > 14 .
If x < 0, then 1 divided by a negative number is always negative so
1
x < 4 for any x < 0.
So the solution set is x < 0 or 41 < x which is the interval
(, 0) (0 < 41 ).

Prof. Kenneth James T. Nuguid

Calculus Preliminaries

Equations and Inequalities

Exercises
Exercise 6. Solve the following inequalities, express the solution set
as an interval and draw a diagram of the solution set.
a. 2x + 1 < 5x 8
b. 1 < 2x 5 < 7
c. 4x < 2x + 1 3x + 2
d. (x 1)(x 2) > 0
e. 2x 2 + x 1
f. x 2 5
g. x 3 + 3x < 4x 2
h. 3 <

1
x

Prof. Kenneth James T. Nuguid

Calculus Preliminaries