Topic 2 Equations and Inequalities

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Equations and
Inequalities

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this topic, you should be able to:
1. Describe the operations of equations;
2. Form a mathematical equation to daily life mathematics problems;
3. Solve quadratic equations; and
4. Solve inequalities.
INTRODUCTION

An equation is a statement of equality between two algebraic expressions which
holds true for a limited possibility of value for the unknown(s), and the process of
finding such value(s) is called solving an equation. For example 2x + 1 = 3x 1 is
true for x = 2.

If the statement of equality is true for all values of the unknowns, then the
statement is an identity.
EQUATIONS 2.1

We have seen that an equation is normally true for several values of unknown
only. Each of the values of unknown that makes an equation valid, if exists, is
called the solution or the root of the equation. Solving an equation means finding
all the possible solutions to an equation.
TOPIC 2 EQUATIONS AND INEQUALITIES

26
Example 2.1
The equation x 3 = 7 is true when x = 10 and false for all other values of x.
Therefore 10 is the solution for x 3 = 7. We also said that 10 satisfies the
equation x 3 = 7, because when x is replaced by 10, a true statement results.

Example 2.2
We have seen that the equation (x + 1)
2
= x + 7 has two solutions, i.e. x = 3 or
x = 2.

(a) Equivalent Equations
Two or more equations that have the same solutions are called equivalent
equations. For example, the following equations are equivalent because
each of them has the same solution i.e. x = 3:

3 1 8
3 9
3
x
x
x
=
=
=

These three equations demonstrate a way of solving equations, i.e. by
replacing the original equation by equivalent equations continuously until
the solution is obvious (likes x = 3).

(b) Steps to Produce Equivalent Equation(s)
How to obtain these equivalent equations? Generally there are five steps.

(i) Interchange both sides of the equation:

Replace 5 = x with x = 5.

(ii) Simplify both sides of the equations by combining monomials of the
same degree, eliminating the brackets, etc:

Replace (x + 1) + 5 = 2x + (x 1)
with x + 6 = 3x 1

27
(iii) Add or subtract the same expression to both sides of the equation:

Replace 2x + 3 = 5
with (2x + 3) 3 = 5 3.

(iv) Multiply or divide both sides of the equation with the same non-zero
expression:

Replace
2 5
, 1
1 1
x
x
x x
= =
+ +

with
2 5
( 1) ( 1)
1 1
x
x x
x x
+ = +
+ +
.

(v) When the left hand side or the right hand side equation is equals to
zero, and the other side of the equation can be factorised, we can use
the law of multiplication ** (see notes below) to solve the equation.
We only need to factorise the non-zero side and set each of the factors
to be equalled to 0.

Replace x (x 3) = 0
with x = 0 or x 3 = 0

** Note: The law of multiplication states that for any two real number a
and b:

If ab = 0 then a = 0 or b = 0 or a = b = 0.

Example 2.3
Solve the equation 3(2 x) = 2x 1.

Solution
Observe that the unknown x exists on both sides of the equation. The first step is
to group all terms to the left hand side of the equation.

Subtract 2x 1 from both sides of the equation

3(2 x) (2x 1) = 2x 1 (2x 1)


28
we get

or
3(2 ) (2 1) 0
6 3 2 1 0
7 5 0
7
5
x x
x x
x
x
=
+ =
=
=

eliminate brackets
add and subtract monomials of the
same degree

Example 2.4
Solve the equation x
2
= 9x.

Solution
Subtract 9x from both sides of the equation

2
2
9 9 9
9 0
( 9) 0
x x x
x x
x x
=
=
=
x

factorise
law of multiplication
x = 0 or x = 9

Example 2.5
Solve the equation
3
3
3 3
x
x x
+ =

Solution
Observe that for this case, x = 3 because otherwise it means division by zero.
Therefore the possible domain of the unknown x is {x | x = 3}. This equation can
be simplified by multiplying both sides with the denominator factor (x 3). This
is possible because x 3 = 0. We get,

3 ( 3)
3
x
x
x
| |
+
|
\ .
=
3
( 3
3
x
x
| |
)
|
\ .

or 3( 3) x x + = 3

Our calculation results in the solution of x = 3. But, x = 3 does not belong to the
domain of unknown x. Therefore we can conclude that this equation has no
solution.
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APPLICATION INVOLVING FIRST DEGREE
EQUATIONS
2.2
A first degree equation is also called a linear equation. A linear equation is an
equation that involves only one variable (unknown) with power not higher than
one. Any equation of the form

ax + b = 0

where a, b, and c are real numbers and 0 a = is called a linear equation. A linear
equation is also referred to as simple equation.

There are many applications involving linear equations. Several examples are
shown as follows.

Example 2.6
The perimeter of a square is 20 unit. Find the length of the side of the square.

Solution
We know that each side of a square is the same. Let x denote the length, then we
have 4x = 20. Thus x = 5.

Example 2.7
The price for 2 pencils is RM4. Form a linear equation and hence find the price of
the pencil.

Solution
Let x denote the price of the pencils. So we have 2x = 4. Thus the price of a pencil,
x = 2.
SECOND DEGREE OR QUADRATIC
EQUATIONS
2.3
Any equation of the form

ax
2
+ bx + c = 0

where a, b and c are real numbers and 0 a = is called a second-degree or quadratic
equation.


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(a) Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring
When a quadratic equation is written in the standard form ax
2
bx c = 0,
the expression on the left hand side may be factorised into product of two
polynomials of the first degree.

For example, the standard quadratic equation 3x
2
+ 10x 8 = 0 can be solved
by writing

3x
2
+ 10x 8 = (x + 4)(3x 2)

and then applying the law of multiplication of two numbers, that is:

x + 4 = 0, hence 4 x =
or 3x 2 = 0, hence
2
3
x =
Therefore the solutions to the equation are x = 4 or
2
.
3
x =

(b) Solving Quadratic Equations that Cannot be Factorised
Consider the equation

3x
2
+ 4x 2 = 0.

Division by 3 gives us

2
4 2
0
3 3
x x + =

or

2
4 2
.
3 3
x x + =

Now, let us add
2
2
3
| |
|
\ .
to both sides of the equation.

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This number is specially chosen so that the left hand side of the equation will
become a perfect square of two identical factors as shown as follows:

2 2
2
4 2 2 2
3 3 3 3
x x
| | | |
+ + = +
| |
\ . \ .

or

2
2 10
.
3 9
x
| |
+ =
|
\ .

Following that

2 1
3 3
x + =
0

or

2 10
.
3 3
x =

Therefore, there are two solutions to the quadratic equation, i.e.

2 10
3 3
x = + or
2 10
.
3 3
x =

This method is called "completing the square" method.

(c) Solving Quadratic Equations by Formula
The "completing the square" method, when applied to the general quadratic
equation ax
2
+ bx + c = 0, will produce the formula to obtain the roots, that
is:

2
4
.
2
b b ac
x
a

=


32
(d) Nature of the Roots of Quadratic Equations
When we use the above formula to solve the quadratic equation ax
2
+ bx + c
= 0 we will get two roots, that is:

2
4
2
b b ac
x
a
+
= or
2
4
.
2
b b ac
x
a

=

Generally, a quadratic equation has two solutions (which is also known as
the roots of the equation). However, the nature of the solution can be
determined earlier by analysing the terms b
2
4ac which is called the
discriminant.
- If b
2
4ac is positive,
2
4 b ac can be computed and the equation will
have two distinct real number roots.
- If b
2
4ac is zero, we will have only a single (repeated) root, which is
.
2
b

a
- If b
2
4ac is negative,
2
4 b ac does not have a real square root and
hence, the equation will have no real number roots.

Therefore, the conclusion is:

The equation ax
2
+ bx + c = 0 will have
- two distinct real roots when b
2
4ac > 0,
- two equal roots when b
2
4ac = 0,
- and no real root when b
2
4ac < 0.

Example 2.8
Determine the nature of the roots of the equation 3x
2
5x 2 = 0 and then
find the roots.

Solution
Compare this equation to the standard quadratic equation ax
2
+ bx + c = 0.
Therefore, for this equation we can recognise that a 3, b 5 and c 2.

33
These three values of a, b and c will enable us to compute the discriminant
for this equation which is equal to (5)
2
4(3)(2) = 49. Since the
discriminant is positive, we can conclude that this equation has two distinct
real number roots.

Next, we use the formula to compute the roots, that is:

2 2
( 5) ( 5) 4(3)( 2) ( 5) ( 5) 4(3)( 2)
or
2(3) 2(3)
x x
+ +
= =

Hence we have two distinct roots

x = 2 or
1
3
x =

for the quadratic equation 3x
2
5x 2 = 0.

Notice that the equation can also be factorised as follows:

3x
2
5x 2 = (3x + 1)(x 2) = 0

which produces the same roots.

(e) Forming Quadratic Equation from its Roots
Let o and | be the roots of a quadratic equation. This means that in solving
that quadratic equation we obtain two roots, i.e.

x = o or x = |.

But,

If x = o then x o = 0,

and

If x = | then x | = 0.


34
From the product rule, it means

(x o)(x |) = 0

or

2
( ) x x o | o | 0 + + = , A quadratic equation has resulted from the
roots o and |

or

x
2
(sum of roots)x + (product of roots) = 0

We can use the knowledge about a quadratic equation that relates to any
roots a and b in order to facilitate the process of finding its roots by using
factorisation. In trying to factorise the quadratic equation

2
0 ax bx c + + = ,

we can try numbers that are factors of c.

For example, consider the equation

2
6 7 x x 0 = ,

We can try the numbers 1 or 7.

Observe that,
(i) x = 1, we get 1
2
6(1) 7 = 0
(ii) x = 1, we get (1)
2
6(1) 7 = 0
(iii) x = 7, we get (7)
2
6(7) 7 = 0
(iv) x = 7, we get (7)
2
6(7) 7 = 0

It is obvious that 1 and 7 are the roots of the equation because these two
values satisfy the original quadratic equation. Therefore the equation
can be factorised as:
2
6 7 x x = 0

35

2
6 7 ( 7)( 1) 0 x x x x = + =

or

( 7)( 1) x x 0 + = .
2.4 INEQUALITIES

Inequalities in a single unknown are statements that involves two expressions
(at least one of these expressions contains the unknown) and both of these
expressions are separated by an inequality symbols of <, s, >, or >. The process of
solving an equality is the process of finding all values of the unknown that makes
the inequality true. All those values of the unknown is called the solution to the
inequality.

For example below are several inequalities in one unknown:

x 3 > 5, 4x + 9 > 1,
2
1 8, x s 0
1
x
x
>

Before we can solve an equality, we need to know about several
properties of an inequality:

(i) For any pair of real numbers a and b,

a 0.

(ii) For any real number a,

2
0. a >


36
(iii) The following properties are true for any three real numbers a, b and c:

If a b and b > c, then a > c.
If a b then a + c > b + c.

(iv) The multiplication property of an inequality describes its property when it is
multiplied by a real number.

If a 0, then ac < bc.
If a bc.
If a > b and if c > 0, then ac > bc.
If a > b and if c < 0, then ac < bc.

(v) If a > 0, then
1
0.
a
>
If a < 0, then
1
0.
a
<

Two inequalities that have exactly the same set of solutions are called equivalent
inequalities.

Example 2.9
Solve the inequality 3 1 3 . x x > +

3 1 3
3 1 1 3
3 4
3 4
2 4
x x
1 x x
x x
x x
x
> +
+ > + +
> +
>
>

Add 1 to both sides of the inequality
Subtract x from both sides of the inequality
Divide both sides of the inequality with 2
or x > 2

The solution set is { or, in interval notation, all the numbers in the interval
(2,) are solutions to the above inequality.
2} x x >
37
Example 2.10
Sometimes we are faced with a combination of inequalities like the following:

3 < 2x 1 < 1

We can still use the same approach as before. However, we must remember that
any operation chosen must be applied to the entire inequality.

3 < 2x 1 < 1
Add 1 to each side of the inequality
3 + 1 < 2x 1 + 1 < 1 + 1
2 < 2x < 2
Divide each side of the inequality with 2
or 1 < x < 1.

To solve inequalities that contain polynomial of the second degree or higher, and
inequalities that contain irrational expression, we need to re-arrange the
inequality so that the polynomial or the irrational expression is on the left-hand
side and zero is on the right-hand side of the inequality. The following example
shows why we need to take such a step.

Example 2.11

x
2
7x > 8.

Solution
The first step is to make the right-hand side equals to zero. Subtract 8 from both
sides of the inequality and we have:

x
2
7x > 8 > 0.

Observe that the left-hand side of the inequality can be factorised as

(x 8)(x + 1) > 0.

Now we can use the real-number line to form a graph based on the solution for the
equation

x
2
7x 8 = (x 8)(x + 1) = 0.


38
i.e. x = 8 and x = 1. These two numbers divide the real-number line into three
intervals:

| |
1 8
1, 1 8, 8. x x
< < <
x>

Next, construct a table as follows:
- entries for the first row are the three intervals;
- entries for the first column are the factors to the left of the inequality and their
products; and
- other entries are the sign of each of the factor and the sign of their products for
each of the intervals.

x < 1 1 < x < 8 x > 8
(x 8) +
(x + 1) + +
(x 8).(x + 1) + +

For example, the second row is read as (x 8) is negative when x < 1 and
1 < x < 8 and (x 8) is positive when x > 8.

The third row is read as the product of (x 8) (which is negative when 1 < x < 8)
with the factor (x + 1) (which is positive when 1 < x < 8) is a negative number.
Now, to solve the original inequality, we need (x 8)(x + 1) > 0.

From the table, this is given in the second and fourth column. Therefore, the
solution is obtained when x < 1 or x > 8 and can be written in set notation as
follows:

{ x | x < 1 or x > 8}.

Example 2.12
The same approach can be used to solve the inequality

1 3
2 1 x x
>
+ +

39
Solution
Subtract
3
1 x +
from both sides of the equation so that the unknown x are on the
left-hand side,

1 3 3 3
2 1 1 1 x x x x
>
+ + + +

or
1 3
0
2 1 x x
>
+ +

common factor of the denominator
eliminate the bracket

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

1 3 6
0
( 2)( 1)
x x
x x
+
>
+ +

or
(2 5)
0
( 2)( 1)
x
x x
+
>
+ +

Now, multiply the entire inequality with 1, and from property (iv) above,
multiplication with a negative number will affect the sign of the inequality. The
result is

(2 5)
0.
( 2)( 1)
x
x x
+
<
+ +

When we have reached this stage, we can construct a table similar to Example
2.11 above to decide when this division will yield negative values. This sign will
depend on the sign of the numerator and the denominator of the inequality.
Therefore, in this case, we divide the number line into intervals using the numbers
obtained when the numerator and the denominator is set to zero. In this example,
the numerator is zero when
5
,
2
x and the denominator is zero when x = 2 or
x = 1. These values divide the number line as follows:
=


40
5
2
x

<
5
2
2
x
< <
2 1 x < < 1 x >
(2x + 5) + + +
(x + 2) + +
(x + 1) +
(2 5)
( 2)( 1)
x
x x
+
+ +

+ +

It is clear from the table that
(2 5)
( 2)( 1)
x
x x
+
+ +
when
5
2
x

< or 2 < x < 1. This
solution can be written in set notation as follows:

5
{ or 2
2
x x x
< < < 1}

(a) Quadratic Equations
(i) Any equation of the form
2
0 ax bx c + + =
where a, b, and c are real numbers and a = 0 is called a quadratic
equation.

(b) Solving Quadratic Equations
(i) There are three methods that can be used to solve quadratic equations:
- by factoring
- When a quadratic equation is written in the standard form
2
0 ax bx c + + = , the expression on the left hand side may be
factorised into product of two polynomials of the first degree.
- by completing the square method.
- by using formula,
2
4
.
2
b b ac
x
a

=
41
(ii) Nature of the Roots of Quadratic Equations

The equation ax
2
+ bx + c = 0 will have

- two distinct real roots when b
2
4ac > 0,
- two equal roots when b
2
4ac = 0,
- and no real root when b
2
4ac < 0.

(iii) Forming Quadratic Equation from its Roots
A quadratic equation resulted from the roots o and |
(x o) (x |) = 0 or

2
( ) x x o | o | 0, + + = or
x
2
(sum of roots)x + (product of roots) = 0

Discriminat
Inequalities
Linear equations
Quadractic equations
Roots

1. Solve
( 1)
0.
( 2)( 3)
x
x x
+
>
+ +

Hence write the solution to
1
0.
( 2)( 3)
x
x x
+
s
+ +

2. Let o and | be roots of a quadratic function
2
. ax bx c + + Find a, b and c if
4 o | + = and 2. o| =

Topic 2 Equations and Inequalities

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