Chapter 4: Polynomial Equations and

Inequalities

Masru Ahmed Rafi: Chapter 4.1

Rishipal Singh Dhanoa: Chapter 4.2
Bryant Tey: Chapter 4.3
Zubair Shahid: Chapter 4.4
4.1 SOLVING POLYNOMIAL EQUATION
 Factoring by grouping

𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 24

𝑥2 𝑥 + 6 − 4 𝑥 + 6

(𝑥 + 6)(𝑥 2 − 4) This derives from the formula

(𝑎2 − 𝑏2 )

(𝑥 + 6) 𝑥 + 2 𝑥 − 2

x+6=0 or x+4=0 or x-4=0

X= -6 x= -4 x=4
 Using the factor theorem
Example 1

State the zeros of the following equation

f(x)=2 𝑥 − 4 3 (𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 5)
Let f(x)=0
3
2 𝑥−4 =0 x+3 =0 x−5 =0
x=4 x = -3 x=5
 Example 2(using factor theorem)

2𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 − 13𝑥 − 6
Possible values for x where f(x)=0 → Numbers that can be used to f(x)=0 are of
∓1,∓2,∓3,∓6 form p/q, where p is a factor of constant term
6 and q is a factor of the leading coefficient 2.
f(1)= 2 1 3 − 1 2 − 13 1 − 6
= 2-1-13-6
= -18

f(2) = 2 2 3 − 2 2
− 13 2 − 6
= 16-4-26-6
= -20

f(-2)= 2 −2 3 − −2 2
− 13 −2 − 6 x= -2
= -16-4+26-6 x+2=0
=0
Therefore
(x+2) is a factor of f(x)
(2𝑥 3 −𝑥 2 − 13𝑥 − 6) ÷ (𝑥 + 2) (2𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 3)(x+2)=0

2𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 3 (2𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 3𝑥 − 3)(x+2)=0
X+2 2𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 − 13𝑥 −6 (𝑥 − 1)(2𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 2)=0
2𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 x=1, x=1.5, x=-2
- 5𝑥 − 13𝑥
− 5𝑥 − 10𝑥
−3𝑥 − 6
−3𝑥 − 6
0
 Example 3
The area of the rectangular garden is 3𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 2 . The garden is
(x+2)m long. How wide is the garden?
3𝑥 2 + 1
x+2 3𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 2
Width 3𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 2
0 + 𝑥+2
Length 𝑥+2
0
Area = length x width
Width = Area Therefore width of the garden is (3𝑥 2 + 1)
Length

Width= 3𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 2
(x+2)
For further help
These are some links which are able to further assist you, if you
are still unable to understand any of the explanations above.
▪ http://www.mathwarehouse.com/algebra/polynomial/polynom
ial-equation.php
▪ http://www.regentsprep.org/regents/math/algtrig/ate13/highp
olylesson.htm
▪ http://everythingmaths.co.za/maths/grade-10/02-equations-
and-inequalities/02-equations-and-inequalities-06.cnxmlplus
Problem Solver (Solves Equations):
http://www.mathportal.org/calculators/solving-
equations/polynomial-equation-solver.php
 Topic 4.2

Solving linear inequalities

Solving Linear Inequalities(Text book ref.: Pgs 207-212)

Overview:

▪ Understanding the inequality Symbols

▪ Understanding what is meant by a solid dot ( ) and a hollow dot ( )
▪ What is Liner inequalities? And the direction of the inequality
▪ You will also learn to understand how and when to inverse your inequality
sign
 Understanding Symbols

There are 4 main symbols which you need to understand the

meaning before you are able to understand and solve the
questions. The meaning and symbols provided below:
 Understanding Dot Symbol

There are also two other symbols which need to be understood, a solid
dot ( ) and a hollow dot ( ).
▪ Solid dot on a number line is used to indicate that a number is
included in the solution set.(≥ , ≤)
▪ A hollow dot indicates that the number is not included in the solution
set.(> , <)
example:
 What is Linear Equalities?

A linear inequality is an inequality which involves a linear function

(Algebraic expression) with a degree of 1.

Example :
1. 2x+7 < 12 - X --- Shows that 12 is GREATER than 2x+7 and this IS
also an inequality
2. 2x²+7 > 12 - X --- Shows that 12 is LESS than 2x²+7 and this
example is NOT a linear inequality because the leading coefficient
has a degree greater than 1.
 Direction of Inequalities
The direction of inequalities can change direction under certain circumstances. When
multiplying or dividing an inequality with a negative value, its sign changes direction.

Multiplying Dividing

For example: For Example:

3 to 7 is an increase and -3 to -7 is a
decrease. = -4y > -2 (divide by -2)
= -4y/-2 > -2/-2
= 2y < 1

= 3 < 7 (multiply by -1)

= 3 x -1 < 7 x -1
= -3 > -7
 Sample Questions

Equation: 4x + 6 < 38
Solving the equation:
=4x + 6 < 38
=4x < 38-6
=4x < 32 (divide by 4)
The number line shows that all the numbers
below 8 satisfy this inequality. Again, the
hollow dot shows that the value 8 is NOT
included in the inequality.

=x < 8
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
 Sample Question

Now lets try something a little harder!

Equation: -4 ≤ 3 – 7x ≤ 38
Solving the equation:
=-4-3 ≤ 3-3-7x ≤ 38-3
=-7 ≤ -7x ≤ 35 (divide with -7)
=7≥x≥5
 Question 1

The velocity of a bullet fired vertically is given by V = 80 – 32t, where t is in seconds.

When will the velocity be between 32 and 64 feet per second?
=32 < 80 – 32t < 64
= 32 – 80 < 80 – 80 – 32t < 64 – 80
= -48 < -32t < -16
= -48/-32 < -32t/-32 < -16/-32
= 1.5 > t > 0.5 (signs have been reversed because we divided with a negative value)

Meaning:
The velocity of the bullet will be between 32 and 64 feet per second between 0.5 seconds after
shooting and 1.5 seconds after shooting.
Video explanation
 Recommended Websites

These are some links which are able to further assist you, if you are still
unable to understand any of the explanations above.
▪ http://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/inequality-solving.html
▪ http://www.regentsprep.org/regents/math/algebra/ae8/PSolvIn.htm
▪ http://everythingmaths.co.za/maths/grade-10/02-equations-and-
inequalities/02-equations-and-inequalities-06.cnxmlplus
Video link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X-bMeIN53I
 Topic 4.3

Solving Polynomial Inequalities

The first step in solving a polynomial inequality is to find the polynomial's
zeroes (its x-intercepts). Between any two consecutive zeroes, the polynomial
will be either positive or negative. Since the inequality is asking for positivity
("greater than zero") or negativity ("less than zero"), finding the intercepts
("equal to zero") is the way to get started. If you think of the problem
graphically, the zeroes are where the polynomial crosses the x-axis; between
any two consecutive crossing-points, the polynomial will either be above the
axis (and thus positive) or below it (and thus negative).
Example 1

2x3 - 17x2 + 17x +12 Polynomial inequalities

factor the function with

1 2 3 -17 12
2 5 -12
2 5 -12 0 f(x)=(x-1)(2x2 + 5x – 12)
x=1 x=3/2 x=-4
1

▪ The x intercepts are at -4 -1 and 3/2

x<-4 -4<x<1 1<x<3/2 x>3/2

-4 1 3/x
▪ Using GC
The intercept are at
-4, 1, 3/2
Example 2

▪ X3-4x2-9x+36>0
x2(x-4)-9(x-4)>0
(x-4)(x2-9)>0
(x-4)(x-3)(x+3)>0
(x-4)(x-3)(x+3)=0
▪ The root are -3, 3,4
 x < -3 -3 < x < 3 3<x4 X >4
(x-4) - - - +

(x-3) - - + +

(x+3) - + + +
▪ The intersection of X3-4x2-9x+36>0 will be -3<x3 or x>4
Questions