Interval and Set Notation ii. Mark the numbers found in (i) on a number line.

An inequality may have infinitely many solutions. The Use a shaded circle to indicate that the value is
set of all solutions can be expressed using set notation included in the solution set and a hollow circle to
or interval notation. These notations are presented in indicate that the value is excluded. These
the table below: numbers partition the number line into intervals.
iii. Select a test point within the interior of each
interval in (ii). The sign of the rational expression
at this test point is also the sign of the rational
expression at each interior point in the
aforementioned interval.
iv. Summarize the intervals containing the
solutions.

Example:
1. Solve the inequality
2𝑥
≥1
𝑥+1
Activity
Complete the Box 2. Solve the inequality
Interval Set Notation Graph 3 1
<
(-3, 2) 𝑥−2 𝑥

(4, 7] Activity
Find the solution set for each rational inequality below.
(-∞, 3) Graph the solution set on a number line.
(𝑥+3)(𝑥−2)
1. (𝑥+2)(𝑥−1)
≥0
[2, ∞)
𝑥−2
[-2, 8] 2. 𝑥 2 −3𝑥−10
>0

[-2, 5) (𝑥+4)(𝑥−3)
3. (𝑥−2)(𝑥−1)
<0
(-∞, -1]
𝑥+1
4. 𝑥+3
≤2
[0, ∞)
𝑥−3
[-2, 0] 5. >1
𝑥+6

(5, 10)
Assignment
Find the solution set for each rational inequality below.
Graph the solution set on a number line.
(𝑥+2)(𝑥−3)
Procedure for SOLVING RATIONAL INEQUALITIES 1. (𝑥+5)(𝑥−2)
<0
a. Rewrite the inequality as a single fraction and 0 on
the other side. 𝑥−2
2. 𝑥 2 +6𝑥+8
≥0
b. Determine over what intervals the fraction takes on
positive and negative values. (𝑥+5)(𝑥−4)
i. Locate the x-values for which the rational 3. ≤0
(𝑥−3)(𝑥−2)
expression is zero or undefined (factoring the
numerator and denominator is a useful strategy).