Calculator Inequalities Problems Name _______________________

1. In this problem, f(x) = 2x – x2. We will only be interested here in the domain 0 ≤ x ≤ 5.
a. Use a calculator to graph the given y=f(x) function in a window with x going from 0 to 5 and y going
from –2 to 8. Copy your graph in the window below and right.

b. On the domain you just graphed, this function has two zeros (as I
hope you can tell from your drawing!). Show that these occur at
x=2 and x=4 by plugging in numbers to the original function.

c. The inequality f(x)<0 can be expressed in words as: “What are all the x-values such that, when you
plug them into this function, you get a negative answer?”
i. Answer this question, not by doing any algebra, but just by looking at your graph.

ii. How would your answer be different for the inequality f(x)≤0?

d. Now consider the inequality f(x)>0.

i. Express this as a question in words, as I did in the question I wrote in part c above.

ii. Now answer it, once again by looking at your graph.

e. The inequality y<f(x) can be expressed in words as: “What are all the points (x,y) for which the y-
value of that point is less than 2x–x2 for that point?”
i. Consider the point (1,1). (So x=1 and y=1 of course.) For this point, is the y-value less than 2x–
x2, or equal to 2x–x2, or greater than 2x–x2? (You can answer this either by looking at your graph,
or by plugging in numbers.)
ii. Now consider the point (1,0) and answer the same
question.

iii. Now consider the point (1,2) and answer the same
question.

iv. Which one of those three points satisfies the inequality

y<f(x)?

v. In the window at right, duplicate the graph from above &

shade in the entire area for which y<f(x).
2. In this problem, g(x) = 1 – |x–3|. We will once again consider only the domain 0 ≤ x ≤ 5.
a. Graph y=g(x)on your calculator and then sketch it in the window
provided at right.

b. Your graph should show that this function has two zeros. What are
they?

c. What are all the x-values such that, when you plug them into this
function, you get a negative answer?
i. Express this question as an inequality (math with no words).

ii. Solve it by looking at your graph. Write the solutions in the

space below.

d. What are all the points (x,y) for which the y-value of that point is less than 1–|x–3| for that point?
i. Express this question as an inequality (math with no words).

ii. Solve it by redrawing the function in the window provided at

right and then shading in the appropriate region.

3. In the previous two problems you looked at the functions f(x) = 2x – x2 and g(x) = 1 – |x–3| on the
domain 0 ≤ x ≤ 5.
a. Graph the two functions together on the grid provided:

b. Based on your graph, solve the inequality f(x)>g(x). Think

carefully about what form your solution to this question should
take.
4. In this problem L represents the amount of money Larry has in the bank, Q represents the money Quinn has,
and E represents Emma’s money (all measured in dollars). Finally, t represents time (in years). These three
friends have discovered that their bank accounts can be modeled by the following functions.
L(t) = 10t + 5
Q(t) = ½t2
E(t) = 1.2t
Note that this all starts when t is zero, so we must ignore all negative t-values.
a. Graph the three functions as t goes from 0 to 10. (You will need to
figure out a suitable range of y-values so you can see all three graphs on
the entire domain.) Copy the graphs at right and make sure to label
which is which, as well as labeling some numbers on the y-axis.
i. Which friend is doing the best during this time period?

ii. Which friend is doing the worst?

b. Now graph the three functions as t goes from 0 to 40. (You will again
need to figure out a suitable range of y-values: it won’t be the same as
the last one!) Copy the graphs at right and make sure to label which is
which, as well as labeling some numbers on the y-axis.
c. Your picture should show three points of intersection. (One for L
intersecting Q, one for L and E, and one for Q and E.) Estimate their
values as accurately as possible and write your points below.

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a. Solve the inequality Q(t)<L(t). Hint: this should require no work that you haven’t already done. You
can just look at your previous answers and write down the answer!

b. Express the question in Part (d) in words. Your question should not contain any math words such as
“variable” or “function”: it is a normal-English question about three friends and their money.

c. Copy your drawing from Part (b) in the space below. Then shade in the
region that represents the inequality Q(t)< y <E(t).

Which friend does the best in the long term?

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