Solutions to Practice Problems

Exercise 2.19
Let a ∈ R. Show that max{a, 0} = 12 (a + |a|) and min{a, 0} = 21 (a − |a|).

Solution.
The results are clear if a = 0. If a > 0 then |a| = a and max{a, 0} = a =
1
2
(a + |a|). If a < 0 then |a| = −a and max{a, 0} = 0 = 21 (a + |a|). Likewise
for the minimum

Exercise 2.20
Show that |a + b| = |a| + |b| if and only if ab ≥ 0.

Solution.
Suppose first that |a + b| = |a| + |b|. Squaring both sides we find a2 + 2ab +
b2 = a2 + 2|a||b| + b2 or equivalently ab = |a||b| = |ab|. But this is true
only when ab ≥ 0. Conversely, suppose that ab ≥ 0. If a = 0 we have
|0 + b| = |b| = |0| + |b|. Likewise when b = 0. So assume that ab > 0. Suppose
that a > 0 and b > 0. Then a+b > 0 and in this case |a+b| = a+b = |a|+|b|.
Similar argument when a < 0 and b < 0

Exercise 2.21
Suppose 0 < x < 12 . Simplify x+3
|2x2 +5x−3|
.

Solution.
We have
x+3 x+3 1 1
= = =
|2x2 + 5x − 3| |(2x − 1)(x + 3)| |2x − 1| 1 − 2x
Exercise 2.22
Write the function f (x) = |x + 2| + |x − 4| as a piecewise defined function.
Sketch its graph.

Solution.
We have 
x+2 if x ≥ −2
|x + 2| =
−(x + 2) if x < −2
Likewise, 
x−4 if x ≥ 4
|x − 4| =
−(x − 4) if x < 4

1
Combining we find

 −2x + 2 if x < −2
f (x) = 6 if −2 ≤ x < 4
2x − 2 if x ≥ 4


The graph is given below

Exercise 2.23
Prove that ||a| − |b|| ≤ |a − b| for any real numbers a and b.

Solution.
We have |b| − |a| ≤ |b − a| = |a − b| so that −|a − b| ≤ |a| − |b| ≤ |a − b| by
Exercise 2.18. Now using Exercise 2.14, the result follows

Exercise 2.24
Solve the equation 4|x − 3|2 − 3|x − 3| = 1.

Solution.
Let u = |x − 3|. Then 4u2 − 3u − 1 = 0 implies u = 1 or u = −1
4
. Since u ≥ 0
we must have |x − 3| = u = 1. Hence, x − 3 = −1 or x − 3 = 1. Thus, x = 2
or x = 4

Exercise 2.25
|x|
What is the range of the function f (x) = x
for all x 6= 0?

Solution.
|x| x |x| −x
If x > 0 then x
= x
= 1. If x < 0 then x
= x
= −1. Thus, the range is
{−1, 1}

2
Exercise 2.26
Solve 3 ≤ |x − 2| ≤ 7. Write your answer in interval notation.

Solution.
Solving the inequality |x − 2| ≤ 7 we find −5 ≤ x ≤ 9. Solving the inequality
|x − 2| ≥ 3 we find x ≤ −1 or x ≥ 5. Thus, the common intervals are
[−5, −1] ∪ [5, 9]

Exercise√2.27
2
Simplify |x|x .

Solution. √
x2 |x|
The answer is |x|
= |x|
=1

Exercise 2.28  
Solve the inequality  x+1
x−2
 < 3. Write your answer in interval notation.

Solution.
We have −3 < x+1x−2
< 3. The inequality x+1
x−2
< 3 implies −2x+7
x−2
< 0. Solving
this inequality we find x < 2 or x > 2 . Likewise, The inequality x+1
7
x−2
> −3
4x−5 5
implies x−2 > 0. Solving this inequality we find x < 4 or x > 2. Hence, the
common interval is (−∞, 54 ) ∪ ( 27 , ∞)

Exercise 2.29
Suppose x and y are real numbers such that |x − y| < |x|. Show that xy > 0.

Solution.
Since |x − y| < |x| we have −|x| < x − y < |x|. Multiplying through by −1
and adding x we obtain x − |x| < y < x + |x|. If x = 0 then 0 < y < 0 which
is impossible. Therefore either x > 0 or x < 0. If x > 0 then 0 < y < 2x.
Hence xy > 0. If x < 0 then 2x < y < 0 and so xy > 0