SOLUTION TO HW1

Question 1. Solve the inequality | − x + 1| ≤ 4 and show the solution set in the real line.
Solution:
Method 1. We know | − x + 1| = |x − 1|, thus |x − 1| ≤ 4.
then −4 ≤ x − 1 ≤ 4,
add 1 to the above, we have −3 ≤ x ≤ 5.

Method 2. Directly from | − x + 1| ≤ 4, we have −4 ≤ −x + 1 ≤ 4, then minus 1 to the inequality,

−5 ≤ −x ≤ 3, multiply −1 (remember to reverse the inequality sign), we have the same answer −3 ≤ x ≤ 5.

Figure 1. graph to Question 1

Question 2. Solve the following inequality and express the solution sets as intervals or unions of intervals:
(x − 1)2 > 4x
Solution:
We have (x − 1)2 − 4x > 0, i.e. x2 − 2x + 1 − 4x > 0
Then x2 − 6x + 1 > 0
2
Use
√ quadratic formula to solve the corresponding equation of x − 6x + 1 = 0, and you will get x1,2 =
3 ± 2 2. √ √
Thus the inequality becomes x2 − 6x + 1 = (x − (3 + 2 2))(x − (3 − 2 2)) > 0
Continue to consider the sign √(by point check)in
√ each
√ interval √
on the real line (3 intervals divided by the
two values of x1 , x2 ) (−∞, 3 − 2 2), (3 − 2 2, 3 + 2 2), (3 + 2 2, +∞)
√ √ √ √
interval \ sign
√ x − (3 + 2 2) x − (3 − 2 2) (x − (3 + 2 2))(x − (3 − 2 2))
√
(−∞, 3√− 2 2) √ − − +
(3 − 2√2, 3 + 2 2) − + −
√
(3 + 2 2, +∞) + + +
√ S √
We have x ∈ (−∞, 3 − 2 2) (3 + 2 2, +∞), x2 − 6x + 1 > 0. √ S √
Or you may use the parabola graph y = x2 − 6x + 1 to know the answer (−∞, 3 − 2 2) (3 + 2 2, +∞)
directly.
Question 3. Solve the following inequality and express the solution sets as intervals or unions of intervals:
x3 ≤ 4x
Solution:
We have x3 − 4x = x(x2 − 4) = x(x + 2)(x − 2) ≤ 0.
Continue to consider the sign (by point check)in each interval in the real line (4 intervals divided by
−2, 0, 2)
interval \ sign x x+2 x-2 x(x+2)(x-2)
√
(−∞, −2) − − − −
(−2, 0) − + − +
√
(0,2) + + − −
(2, ∞) + + + +
S
Thus the solution is (−∞, −2] [0, 2].
Question 4. Solve the following inequality and express the solution sets as intervals or unions of intervals:
|2x + 3| < 4
Solution: Easily, we have −4 < 2x + 3 < 4, and thus −7 < 2x < 1, i.e. − 27 < x < 12 . The final solution
is (− 72 , 12 ).
Question 5. Solve the following inequality and express the solution sets as intervals or unions of intervals:
|2x + 3| > 4x
Solution:
Method 1: Considering the property of absolute values, we know |2x + 3| ≥ 0.
Thus it’s expected that
1
2 SOLUTION TO HW1

3
Case 1. If x ≥ 0, we have 2x + 3 ≥ 3. Then we have |2x + 3| = 2x + 3 > 4x, thus x < .
2
3
Due to x ≥ 0, we have 0 ≤ x <
2
Case 2. If x < 0, we have 4x < 0, but |2x + 3| ≥ 0, thus |2x + 3| > 4x is always true. We have x < 0.
3 [ 3
To sum up, we have the union of the sets in Case1 and Case2, [0, ) (−∞, 0), that is (−∞, ).
2 2
Method 2.(A more general method.) the key step is to get rid of the absolute sign.
(
2x + 3, x ≥ − 32
|2x + 3| =
−(2x + 3), x < − 32
Thus we consider
Case 1. If x ≥ − 32 , we have 2x + 3 > 4x, then x < 32 . Thus − 23 ≤ x < 23 .
Case 2. If x < − 32 , thus −(2x + 3) ≥ 4x, we get x ≤ − 12 . Thus x < − 32 .
To sum up, we have the solution as the union of the set in Case 1 and Case 2, i.e. x < 23 . or (−∞, 32 ).
Question 6. Solving inequality:
2x + 1
>0
(x − 5)(x − 2)2
Solution:
Method 1:
First we know x 6= 5 and x 6= 2, otherwise the denominator is 0.
a
Next considering > 0 ⇔ a·b > 0(Just multiply positive b2 to the ratio), we have (2x+1)(x−5)(x−2)2 >
b
0.
interval \ sign 2x + 1 (x − 2)2 x − 5 (2x + 1)(x − 5)(x − 2)2
1 √
(−∞, − ) − + − +
2
1
(− , 2) + + − −
2
(2,5) + + − −
√
(5, ∞) + + + +
S 1
Thus, x ∈ (5, +∞) (−∞, − ).
2
2x + 1
Method 2. Also (x − 2)2 is positive. Thus the question is equivalent to > 0 as x 6= 2.
x−5
2
Furthermore, we know when the fraction is positive, we multiply (x − 5) to both sides, we have (2x +
1)(x − 5) > 0. (Or in other words, the ratio is positive, the product should be positive as well).
The essential question is now
(
(2x + 1)(x − 5) > 0

x 6= 2
interval \ sign 2x + 1 x − 5 (2x + 1)(x − 5)
1 √
(−∞, − ) − − +
2
1
(− , 2) + − −
2
(2,5) + − −
√
(5, ∞) + + +
S 1
Thus, x ∈ (5, +∞) (−∞, − ).
2
Question 7. Graph the two graphs, and find the point(s) that the two graphs y = x2 and x + y = 2 intersect.
Solution: the intersection points should be solutions to the system
(
y = x2

x+y =2
Then x + x2 = 2, and we have x2 + x − 2 = (x + 2)(x − 1) = 0. Thus x = −2 or x = 1.
To get the corresponding y, we use y = x2 to have the y = 4 or y = 1, respectively.
The intersection points are: (−2, 4), (1, 1).
Question 8. Find an equation for the line L2 that passes through the point (3, 1) and is parallel to the line
L1 2x + 3y + 4 = 0
Solution: Two lines are parallel, thus they have same slope m.
 SOLUTION TO HW1 3

Figure 2. graph to Question 7

2 4
Line L1 equation is : y = − x −
3 3
2 2
Thus the equation slope of L2 is m = − , we assume the equation is y = mx + b = − x + b.
3 3
2
Considering (3, 1) is a point in L2 , we know 1 = − × 3 + b, so b = 3.
3
An equation for the line L2 is
2
y =− x+3
3
.
Question 9. Find an equation for the line L2 that passes through the point (3, 1) and that is perpendicular
to the line L1 2x + 3y + 4 = 0. At what point(s) does the two lines intersect?
Solution: Two lines are perpendicular to each other ⇔ m1 · m2 = −1.
2 4
Line L1 equation is : y = − x −
3 3
3 3
Thus the equation slope of L2 is m = , we assume the equation is y = mx + b = x + b.
2 2
3 7
Considering (3, 1) is a point in L2 , we know 1 = × 3 + b, so b = − .
2 2
An equation for the line L2 is
3 7
y = x− .
2 2
the intersection point(s) is solution(s) to the system


 2x + 3y + 4 = 0
 3 7
 y = x−
2 2
3 7 3 7
We have 2x + 3 × ( x − ) + 4 = 0, then x = 1, and use y = x − to get y = −2.
2 2 2 2
Thus (1, −2) is the intersection point of the two lines.
Question 10. Graph the function f (x) on the internal [−3.3]


 −1, x ≤ −1


f (x) = 2x + 3, −1 < x ≤ 1



 −x2 , x > 1
Hint: Piecewise function! Be careful with the intervals, Open (dotted) end points.
4 SOLUTION TO HW1

Figure 3. solution to Question 10