JC1 H2 Mathematics Tutorial 1: Inequalities (Teacher)

ANDERSON SERANGOON JUNIOR COLLEGE

2021 JC1 H2 MATHEMATICS

TUTORIAL 1: INEQUALITIES

Section A: Basic Mastery

1 Without using a calculator, find the solution set of the following inequalities:
(a) 9– x2 > 0 [2]
(b) x2 + 6 x + 17 < 0 [2]
(c) (x–1)(x –5)(x + 2) ≤ 0 [1]
Solution:
(a) (3 + x)(3 –x) > 0
 –3 < x < 3
  x   : 3  x  3
–3 3

(b) x2 + 6x + 17 < 0
(x + 3)2 + 8 < 0
Since (x + 3)2 + 8  8 > 0  x   , so the solution set is  .

(c) (x –1) (x –5) (x +2) ≤ 0

 x  2 or 1  x  5
 x   : x  2 or 1  x  5 –2 1 5

*2 Without using a calculator, solve:

x 1
(a) 0 [2]
x 1
1
(b) 3 [3]
2x 1
Solution:
x 1
(a)  0 x 1
x 1
Multiply by ( x  1) 2 to get  x  1 x  1  0
–1 1
Solution set:  x   : 1  x  1

1 1
(b)  3, x 
2x 1 2
1 1  3(2 x  1)
3 0 0
2x 1 2x 1
4  6x 2  3x
 0 0
2x 1 2x 1 1/2 2/3
  2  3x  2 x  1  0
 1 2
Solution set:  x   :  x  
 2 3

Inequalities T1 – 1
JC1 H2 Mathematics Tutorial 1: Inequalities (Teacher)

3 Solve the following inequalities, showing your reasons clearly:

(a) x  1 [1]
(b) x  1 [1]
(c) 1  x  3 [2]
(d) |x + 1| ≤ 0 [1]
(e) ex > –1 [1]
(f) –1 < ex < 3 [2]
Solution:
(a) x  1 ∴ ∈ℝ (since x  0)
y
(b) x  1  there is no solution for x (since x  0)
(c) 1  x  3  3  x  3
x   : 3  x  3

–3 3 x

(d) x  1  0  x = –1 (since x  1  0 for all x  R , the only solution is when

x 1  0 ,

Or from graph of y  x  1 , we have x   : x  1

y

–1 x

(e) e x  1  ∴ ∈ ℝ (since e x  0 )

(f) 1  e x  3  x  ln 3 (or x  1.10 )

x   : x  ln3 y

0 ln 3 x

Inequalities T1 – 2
JC1 H2 Mathematics Tutorial 1: Inequalities (Teacher)

4 Use a graphical method to find the solution set:

(a) x  2  2 x  1 . [3]
(b) 6 ≤ |5x − 8| ≤ 12 [3]
Solution:
(a) y

2 (1,3) The 2 graphs intersect at x  1 .

From graph, x  2  2 x  1 for x  1.

-2
x Solution set:  x   : x  1

(b) 6 ≤ |5x − 8| ≤ 12 y
y = 5x – 8

From the graph, y = 12

Solution set:
y=6
x   : 0.8  x  0.4 or 2.8  x  4 x
–0.8 0.4 2.8 4

Section C: Part 1 – Drill Practice Questions

1 Without a calculator, solve 2 x 2  17 x  8  0 . [2]

Hence deduce the solution of
(a) 2 y 2  17 y  8  0 [2]
2
(b) 18 y  51y  8  0 [2]
u u1
(c) 4 - 17(2 ) + 4 < 0 [3]
Solution:
2 x 2  17 x  8  0  (2 − 1)( − 8) < 0  < <8

(a). Let =− : 2 y 2  17 y  8  0  <− <8

 1
 −8 < <− [change inequality sign]  y   : 8  y   
 2

(b). Let =3  18 y 2  51y  8  0

 1 8
 <3 <8 < y :  y  
< ,
 6 3
u 17  2 
u

(c). Let = 2 : 4 u – 17(2 u 1) + 4 < 0   22   4  0

2
 2(2 ) − (17)(2 ) + 8 < 0
∴ < 2 < 8  21  2u  23  1  u  3 , u   : 1  u  3

Inequalities T1 – 3
JC1 H2 Mathematics Tutorial 1: Inequalities (Teacher)

2 ACJC/Promo14/2
(i) Without using a calculator, solve the inequality
4
 x. [3]
x3
(ii) Hence solve the inequality
4x 1
 . [3]
1  3x x
Solution:
4
(i) x (*note x  3)
x3

4  x  x  3
 0
x3
4  x 2  3x
 0
x3
x 2  3x  4
 0
x3


 x  4  x  1  0
x3
 ( x  4)( x  3)( x  1)  0

- + - +

-4 -3 1

Hence 4  x  3 or x  1 .
4x 1 4 1
(ii)   
1  3x x 1 x
3
x

1 1 1
Replacing x in (i) by : 4 
 3 or 1
x x x
1 1
   x or 0  x  1.
3 4

3 AJC/Prelim08/I/3 modified
y2  y  6 x2  4x  9
Solve the inequality  0 . Hence, solve the inequality  1. [5]
y 1 x  2 1
Solution:
y2  y  6
 0 , y 1
y 1

Inequalities T1 – 4
JC1 H2 Mathematics Tutorial 1: Inequalities (Teacher)

2
 1  23
2
Since y  y  6   y     0 y  ,
 2 4

y2  y  6
 0  y 1  0  y 1 (since y  1 )
y 1
2 2
x2  4 x  9
1 
 x  2  5  1  x  2  5  1
x  2 1 x  2 1 x  2 1
2
x2 5
 1  0
x  2 1
2
x  2  5   x  2  1
 0
x  2 1
2
x2  x2 6
 0
x  2 1

Comparing & replacing y by x  2 ,

 x  2 1 x  2  1 or x  2 1

 x  3 or x  1

 x   : x  3 or x  1

4 IJC/Promo2011/1
a 1
Solve the inequality  , where a  0 . [3]
( x  a )( x  3a ) x  a
a 1
Hence solve  , leaving your answers in terms of a. [2]
( x  a )( x  3a ) x a
Solution:
a 1
 , x  3a , x  a
( x  a)( x  3a) x  a

a 1 a  ( x  3a )
  0 0
( x  a )( x  3a) x  a ( x  a )( x  3a )
 x  2a x  2a
 0 0
( x  a )( x  3a ) ( x  a )( x  3a )
  x  2a  x  a  x  3a   0
 3a  x  2a or xa

Inequalities T1 – 5
JC1 H2 Mathematics Tutorial 1: Inequalities (Teacher)

a 1

( x  a)( x  3a ) x a
replace x with x:  3a  x  2a or xa
(no soln, since x  0)  x  a2

Section C: Part 2 – Further Self Practice

5 Show that x 2  x  1 is positive for all real x. Hence find the range of values of a if the

x 2  ax  2
inequality  3 is true for all real values of x. [5]
x2  x  1
Solution:
1 3
x 2  x  1  ( x  ) 2   0, x  R
2 4 Since x 2  x  1 > 0 for all x

x 2  ax  2
2
 3  x 2  ax  2  3( x 2  x  1)  2 x 2  (a  3) x  5  0
x  x 1

Since 2 x2  (a  3) x  5  0 means graph is always above x-axis

D  ( a  3) 2  4(2)(5)  0

 [( a  3)  40 ][(a  3)  40]  0
 [ a  ( 40  3)][ a  (3  40) ]  0

a   : (3  40)  a  ( 40  3) 
6 Without the use of a graphing calculator, solve x 2  4 x  12  0 . [4]
Solution:
2
x 2  4 x  12  0  x  4 x  12  0

 x  2  x  6   0 gives 2  x  6  x  6 i.e. 6  x  6

7 Sketch the graphs of y = | 2x + 3 | and y = | x – 1 | on a single diagram. Hence find the

solution set for | 2x + 3 | – | x – 1 | < 0. [3]
Solution

Inequalities T1 – 6
JC1 H2 Mathematics Tutorial 1: Inequalities (Teacher)

y  2 x  3
For a: Solve   x  4 thus a  4
y  x 1 

y  2 x  3 2 2
For b: Solve  x thus b  
y   x  1 3 3

| 2x + 3 | – | x – 1 | < 0  2x  3  x 1

 2
From the graph,  x   : 4  x   
 3

Section D: Challenging Questions

x2  a
1 Find the range of values of a for which > 0 for all real x. [3]
x2  x  a
Solution:
x2  a
> 0 for all real x only if x2 + a > 0 for all real x and x2 + x + a > 0 for all real x.
2
x xa
The discriminants of these quadratics must both be less than zero:
0 – 4(1)(a) < 0 and 1 – 4(1)(a) < 0  a > 0 and a > 1  a> 1 .
4 4
[Note: The case x2 + a < 0 for all real x and x2 + x + a < 0 for all real x is not possible.]

2 RVHS/10/I/2
The numbers x and y satisfy the equation x2  4 xy(1  y)  y 2  2x  y  1  0 .
If a real value of x is substituted, the equation becomes a quadratic equation in y.
Given that this equation has real solutions, show that (4 x  1)(3  4 x  4x2 )  0 and
find the set of possible values of x. [4]
Solution: x 2  4 xy (1  y)  y 2  2 x  y  1  0
x 2  4 xy  4 xy 2  y 2  2 x  y  1  0
Re arranging (4 x  1) y 2  (4 x  1) y  ( x 2  2 x  1)  0

Inequalities T1 – 7
JC1 H2 Mathematics Tutorial 1: Inequalities (Teacher)

Then since the above equation has real solutions, Discriminant  0

(4 x  1)2  4(4 x  1)( x 2  2 x  1)  0
(4 x  1)[4 x  1  4( x 2  2 x  1)]  0
(4 x  1)(3  4 x  4 x 2 )  0
(4 x  1)(3  2 x)(1  2 x)  0

 3 1 1
Therefore the solution set is  x   : x   or x 
 2 4 2

3 AJC/Promo11/I/5
(i) Show that if k < – 1, then x 2  2 x  k is positive for all real values of x. [2]
xk
(ii) Solve the inequality  0 for the following cases, leaving your
x2  2 x  k
answers in terms of k:
(a) k < – 1 [2]
(b) k > 0. [3]
Solution:
2
(i) x2  2x  k =  x  1   k  1
If k < 1  k+1 < 0  (k +1) > 0
2
so  x  1   k  1  0 x  

Alternative method:
For the quadratic equation x 2  2 x  k = 0
Discriminant = (2)2 – 4(1)(-k) = 4(1+k) < 0 if k < 1
AND coeff of x2 = 1 > 0
Hence x 2  2 x  k > 0 for all real values of x.

(ii)(a) For k < – 1, ( x 2  2 x  k ) is positive for all real x.

xk
Hence 2
0  x– k 0  xk
x  2x  k

(b) If k > 0,
xk
2
0
x  2x  k

Inequalities T1 – 8
JC1 H2 Mathematics Tutorial 1: Inequalities (Teacher)

2
Multiply both sides by  x 2  2 x  k  ,

  x  k   x2  2x  k   0

   
  x  k   x  1  k  1   x   1  k  1   0
  

 x  1  k  1 or 1  k  1  x  k

But denominator  0, so the soln is x < 1  k  1 or 1  k  1 < x  k.

Inequalities T1 – 9
JC1 H2 Mathematics Tutorial 1: Inequalities (Teacher)

Answers to Selected Questions

Section A: Basic Mastery

1 (a)  x   : 3  x  3 (b) 

(c)  x   : x  2 or 1  x  5

3 (a) ∈ℝ (b) no solution

(c)  x   : 3  x  3 (d)  x   : x  1

(e) ∈ℝ (f)  x   : x  ln3

4 (a)  x   : x  1 (b)  x   : 0.8  x  0.4 or 2.8  x  4

Section B: Discussion Questions

 2 
1 (a)  x   : x  or x  1 (b)  x   : 1  x  0 or x  1
 3 
(c)  x   : 3  x  3 
(d) x   : 2  2 3  x  2 or x  2  2 3 
 1 
2 (a)  x   : 2  x  or x  3 (b)  x   : x  2 or x  1
 2 
3  x   : x  3 or 0  x  5 ;  x   : 0  x  e 3 or 1  x  e5 
4  x   : x  21.4
5 25  25 5
5 (a) x  or x   (b)  x   : x   or x  
4 6  6 4
 5 5
(c)  x   : x   or x  
 4 4
6  x   : x  0.5 or x  0 (i)  x   : x   ln 2

 7π 11π 
(ii)  x   : π  x  or  x  2π 
 6 6 

Section C: Part 1 – Drill Practice Questions

 1  1 8
1 (a)  y   : 8  y    (b)  y   :  y  
 2  6 3
(c) u   : 1  u  3
 1 1 
2 (i)  x   : 4  x  3 or x  1 (ii)  x   :   x   or 0  x  1 
 3 4 

Inequalities T1 – 10
JC1 H2 Mathematics Tutorial 1: Inequalities (Teacher)

3  y   : y  1 ;  x   : x  3 or x  1
4  x   : 3a  x  2a or x  a ;  x   : x  a2 

Section C: Part 2 – Further Self Practice

5 a   : (3  40)  a  ( 40  3)
6  x   : 6  x  6
 2
7  x   : 4  x   
 3

Section D: Challenging Questions

 1
1 a   : a  
 4
 3 1 1
2  x   : x   or x 
 2 4 2
3 (ii)(a) x  k (b) x  1  k  1 or 1  k  1  x  k

Inequalities T1 – 11