Matriculation QS015 2014

S.Y.Chuah
June 24, 2014

Chapter 2 : Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

2.1 Equations
(a) Solve equations involving surds, indices and logarithms
2.2 Inequalities
(a) Relate the properties of inequalities
(b) Solve linear inequalities
(c) Solve quadratic inequalities by graphical and analytical approach.
(d) Solve rational inequalities involving linear expressions.
2.3 Absolute Values
(a) Use the properties of absolute values.
|a| 0
| a| = |a|
|a + b| = |b + a|
|a b| = |b a|
|ab| = |a||b|; and
 a  |a|
 
vi.   =
b
|b|
(b) Solve absolute equations of the forms.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

|ax + b| = c
|ax + b| = cx + d
|ax + b| = |cx + d|; and
|ax2 + bx + c| = d

(c) Solve absolute inequalities of the forms.

i. |ax + b| > c
ii. |ax + b| > |cx + d|


 ax + b 
 > e; and
iii. 
cx + d 
iv. |ax2 + bx + c| > d

2.2 Inequalities
2.2.1 Relate the properties of inequalities
If a > b,
Notes:(Change of sign)

(i) a + c > b + c for any c

2x < 4
4
x>
2
x > 2

(ii) a c > b c for any c

(iii) ac > bc if c > 0
(iv) ac < bc if c < 0
(v)

1
1
< ; a, b 6= 0
a
b

2.2.2 Solve Linear Inequalities

After solving the inequalities, the answers can be written in the form of solution set or
interval.
(a, b] = {x : a < x b}

(a, b) = {x : a < x < b}

[a, b] = {x : a x b}

EXAMPLE 1 Give the solution sets for the following inequalities.

(A) 2x 4 > 8

(B) 3x + 5 x 7

(C) 4x 5 < 2x + 9

EXAMPLE 2 Give the solution intervals for the following inequalities.

(A) 7 < 2 + 3x < 8

(B) 2

x + 4
9
2

(C) 6 < 4 x 12

**Special Cases
2x 3 7 7x 3x + 7
This inequality can be split into two parts.
2x 3 7 7x and 7 7x 3x + 7

2.2.3 Solve Quadratic Inequalities

Quadratic Inequalities
A quadratic inequality is an inequality of the form ax2 + bx + c < 0 where a, b and c are
real number with a 6= 0. A quadratic inequality can also be referred to as ax2 +bx+c > 0,
ax2 + bx + c 0 or ax2 + bx + c 0.
Quadratic inequalities can be solved by using graphical or analytical methods.
(A) Graphical Approach
To solve quadratic inequalities by graphical method, we have to master the skill in sketching a quadratic function.
Let us review back what you have learned before in Form 5 in sketching a quadratic
function.
For example, f (x) = x2 + 2x 8

In solving quadratic inequalities, we do not have to draw the quadratic graph in details.

Example is given as below:x2 + 2x 8 < 0

(x + 4)(x 2) < 0
Hence, we get the roots x = 4 and x = 2. Since we want x2 + 2x 8 < 0, therefore

The solution set is

EXAMPLE 3 Solve these inequalities by graphical approach.

(A) x2 3x 4 0

(B) m2 2m 1

(B) Analytical Approach

(i) Analytical approach by using theorem.
(ii) Analytical approach by using number line.
(iii) Analytical approach by using table of sign.
Theorem 1
ab > 0 if and only if a > 0 and b < 0 or a < 0 and b < 0.
ab < 0 if and only if a > 0 and b < 0 or a < 0 and b > 0.
Now we will look at all these methods by using an example.

EXAMPLE 4 Solve the inequality x2 + 2x < 8.

(i)By Theorem
x2 + 2x < 8
x2 + 2x 8 < 0(StandardF orm)
(x 2)(x + 4) < 0
In this example, we are looking for values of x that will make the quadratic on the left
side less than 0 (negative).
From Theorem 2, we know that (x 2)(x + 4) < 0 iff
(x 2) > 0 and (x + 4) < 0

or

(x 2) < 0 and (x + 4) > 0

(ii) By Table of sign

Before drawing the table of sign, we need to identify the zeroes of the quadratic equation
or in other words, the roots of the quadratic equation.
x2 + 2x 8 = 0
(x 2)(x + 4) = 0
Next, plot the zeroes on a number line and determine the intervals as below:

Lastly, draw the table of sign to determine the answer.

(iii) By using Number line

2.2.4 Solving Rational Inequalities

The steps for solving quadratic inequalities can, with slight modification, be used to solve
rational inequalities such as
x2 + 5x 6
x3
> 0 or
3
x5
5x
If after a suitable operations on an equality, the right side is 0 and the left side is of the
P
form , where P and Q are nonzero polynomials, then the inequality is said to be a
Q
rational inequalit in standard form.
For example,
2
x1
2
3

x1 x+7
2(x + 7) + 3(x 1)
(x 1)(x + 7)
2x + 14 + 3x 3
(x 1)(x + 7)
5x + 11
(x 1)(x + 7)

<

3
x+7

<0
<0
<0
<0

In solving the rational inequalities, we can follow the steps as follow:STEP 1 : Write the inequality in standard form.
STEP 2 : Find all zeroes(roots) for polynomials P and Q.
STEP 3 : Plot the zeroes for P and Q on a number line.[Determine intervals]
STEP 4 : Draw table of sign.[Choose a test number in each interval]
STEP 5 : Write the solution and draw the graph.
x2 3x 10
EXAMPLE 5 Solve and graph
2.
1x
Step 1. Write the inequality in standard form.
x2 3x 10
2
1x
x2 3x 10
20
1x
x2 3x 10 2(1 x)
0
1x
x2 x 12
0
1x

Step 2. Find all zeroes(roots) for polynomials P and Q.

P = x2 x 12

Q=1x

Step 3. Plot the zeroes for P and Q on a number line.[Determine intervals]

Step 4. Draw table of sign.[Choose a test number in each interval]

Step 5. Write the solution and draw the graph.

2.3 Absolute Values

2.3.1 Properties of Absolute Values
Definition 1:

Theorem 1: Properties of Absolute Values

(i) |a| 0
(ii) |a| = | a|
(iii) |a + b| = |b + a|
(iv) |a b| = |b a|
(v) |ab| = |a||b|
 a  |a|
 
, b 6= 0
(vi)   =
b
|b|

2.3.2 Absolute values in equations and inequalities

Theorem 2: Properties of Equations & inequalities involving |x| For p > 0,
1. |x| = p is equivalent to x = p or x = p
2. |x| < p is equivalent to p < x < p [x > p and x < p]
3. |x| > p is equivalent to x > p or x < p.

Theorem 3: Properties of Equations & inequalities involving |ax + b| For p > 0,

1. |ax + b| = p is equivalent to ax + b = p or ax + b = p
2. |ax + b| < p is equivalent to p < ax + b < p [ax + b > p and ax + b < p]
3. |ax + b| > p is equivalent to ax + b > p or ax + b < p.

Solve Absolute Values Equations & Inequalities of Different Form

i. Solve |ax + b| = c , |ax + b| > c
(A) |3x + 5| = 4
(B) |2x 1| 3
(C) |7 3x| 2
ii. Solve |ax + b| = cx + d , |ax + b| > cx + d.
(A) |x + 4| = 3x 8
(B) |x 2| 2x + 1
1
(C) |x + 2| < (6 x)
2
iii. Solve |ax + b| = |cx + d| , |ax + b| > |cx + d|. If x is any real number,
|x2 | |x|2 x2

x2 = |x|

meansis equivalent to
|x| = |a| x2 = a2
|x| > |a| x2 > a2
if a 6= 0, |x| < |a| x2 < a2

(A) |x 2| = |2x 1|
(B) |x 2| |2x 3|
(C) |4x + 1| |4x 1|


 ax + b 

 > e.
iv. Solve 
cx + d 


 2x 

1
(A) 
x + 3
v. Solve |ax2 + bx + c| = d , |ax2 + bx + c| > d
(A) |x2 x 1| = 1
(B) |x2 2x 10| 2

Examples & Solutions of Absolute Values Inequalities

(A) |x 1| 3

(C) |3 x| 2x + 9

(B) |2x 1| 1

(D) |3x + 7| 2x + 9