On the previous lesson, basic notations for sets are introduced and even the real number line.

On
this lesson, it will focus more on the properties or axioms of the real number system including the
concepts of absolute value and inequalities.

1. Discuss the seven axioms that give laws governing the operations of addition and
multiplication of Real numbers.
2. Find the solution set of inequalities using intervals.
3. Discuss the basic concepts of Absolute value.

Are there some properties followed in solving equations in Algebra?

Why is that the distance from one point to another is always positive?
How many operations do we apply in real numbers?

Axioms for Real Number System

The Real number system is the most commonly used sets of numbers in dealing with
problems in Calculus and even in Algebra. As what we have discussed in the previous lesson it
consists of different subsets and the elements of each of these subsets is called real numbers.
Working on real numbers we have operations to be used and of course laws that govern the
process of solving these mathematical entities. The operations of real numbers embedded in the
different properties or axiom are the addition and multiplication. The symbol for addition is “+”
for instance, “c+d” meaning the sum of c and d while the symbol for multiplication can be a dot •
or a parentheses ( ) like for example “c • d” or (c)(d) or simply cd, have the same meaning as the
product of c and d. Moreover, when we say “axiom” it is a statement accepted to be true without
a proof.
Axiom 1. Closure and Uniqueness Laws
If 𝑐, 𝑑 ∈ 𝑅, then 𝑐 + 𝑑 is a unique real number, and 𝑐𝑑 is also a unique real number.

Axiom 2. Commutative Laws

If 𝑐, 𝑑 ∈ 𝑅, then 𝑐+𝑑 =𝑑+𝑐 and 𝑐𝑑 = 𝑑𝑐.

Axiom 3. Associative Laws

𝐼𝑓 𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒 ∈ 𝑅 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛
𝑐 + (𝑑 + 𝑒) = (𝑐 + 𝑑) + 𝑒 and 𝑐(𝑑𝑒) = (𝑐𝑑)𝑒.

Axiom 4. Distributive Laws

If 𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒 ∈ 𝑅 then 𝑐(𝑑 + 𝑒) = 𝑐𝑑 + 𝑐𝑒.

Axiom 5. Existence of Identity Element

There exist two distinct real numbers 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 1 such that for any real number a,
𝑎+0=𝑎 and 𝑎(1) = 𝑎

Axiom 6. Existence of Negative or Additive Inverse

For every real number c, there exists a real number called the negative of c (or additive
inverse of c) denoted by −𝑐 (read as negative of c) such that,
𝑐 + (−𝑐) = 0.

Axiom 7. Existence of Reciprocal or Multiplicative Inverse

For every real number c, there exists a real number called the reciprocal of c (or the
multiplicative inverse of c) denoted by 𝑐 −1 , such that
𝑐(𝑐 −1 ) = 1.

All of these seven (7) are called field axioms, and when a certain set satisfies all of these
seven axioms, it is called a field under the two operations involved. Hence, the set of real numbers
is a field because it satisfies the seven axioms under addition and multiplication. However, the
set of integers (Z) is not a field because it doesn’t satisfy the axiom 7.

If you are going to ask what about the operations on subtraction and division, these two
operations are just the result of the two axioms. For instance, the operation on subtraction, it is
just the result of the Axiom 6, for example 5 and its inverse is −5, if you are going to add the
inverses you can come up with 5 + (−5) = 5 − 5 = 0 or simply you just subtract. In like manner
with division, it is just the outcome of Axiom 7, if you are going to multiply reciprocals like 3 and
1 1 3
3
, you will get 3 (3) = 3 = 1, you simply perform division.

The field axioms stated above is considered also as algebraic properties according to
other references. And the other properties of real numbers as mentioned are the order properties
and the completeness properties. However, for the latter its quite reserved for advanced courses
in mathematics.
I will present a table for the list of order properties of real numbers according to Thomas
and Finney (1996).

Table 2. Order Properties

Remember that in multiplying inequalities with a positive sign preserves the inequality
symbol otherwise the symbol is reverted. In addition, reciprocation of the same sign also reverted
the inequality symbol.
Intervals
The real number line discussed above can also have a subset. What does it mean really
by a subset in layman’s term? It is actually a part of a whole. Intervals, consisting of at least two
numbers and the values lying in between these two numbers are considered as subsets of the
real line. For example, the set of all real numbers x such that 𝑥 > 10 is an interval, as is the set of
all x such that −3 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 6. The set of all nonzero real numbers is not an interval, because 0 is
missing, for example, the set fails to include all the values between 1and −1.
In relation to Geometry, the intervals are represented by rays, line segments and line. For
finite intervals, it makes use of line segments. On the other hand, for infinite intervals it uses rays
and even the real line itself. These line segments and rays are parts of course of the real number
line.
A closed finite interval consists of both of its endpoints, half-open finite interval contains
one endpoint but not the other, and open finite interval don’t have endpoints. The endpoints are
also called boundary points; they make up the interval’s boundary. The remaining points of the
interval are interior points and together make up what is called the intervals interior (Thomas and
Finney, 1996).
Intervals are used to for solution sets of inequalities and absolute values. It is very
necessary to have a knowledge on the basic notations on sets hence it is also applied in intervals.
In able for you to understand better the intervals an illustration shown in the table by Thomas and
Finney (1996) will be provided.

Table 3. Types of Intervals

SOLVING INEQUALITIES
In solving inequalities, we need to find an interval that satisfies the given
condition of x in a given inequality.

Illustrative Example 12. Solve the inequalities and graph their solution sets on the real line.

𝑥 12
a) 2𝑥 − 2 < 𝑥 + 6 b) − 5 < 2𝑥 + 3 c) ≥ 10
𝑥−2
Solutions:
a) 2𝑥 − 2 < 𝑥 + 6
2𝑥 < 𝑥 + 8 Add 2 to both sides
𝑥<8 Add −𝑥 to both sides
 The solution set is the interval (−∞, 8).
𝑥
b) − < 2𝑥 + 3
5
−𝑥 < 10𝑥 + 15 Multiply 5 to both sides
−11𝑥 < 15 Add −10𝑥 to both sides

15 1
𝑥 > − 11 Multiply − 11 to both sides
(Note: The inequality symbol is reverted because we have multiplied
a negative number).
15
The solution set is the interval (− 11 , ∞).
12
c) ≥ 10
𝑥−2

The inequality is true only if 𝑥 > 2, otherwise it will be negative or undefined. Therefore,
the inequality will be preserved if we multiply
𝑥 − 2 to both sides, and we have

12
≥ 10
𝑥−2
12 ≥ 10𝑥 − 20 Multiply 𝑥 − 2 to both sides
32 ≥ 10𝑥 Add 20 to both sides
32 1
≥𝑥 Multiply 10 to both sides
10
16
≥𝑥 Simplify
5
16
or 𝑥 ≤ 5

16
The solution set is the interval (2, 5
].

Now, that we are done with inequalities we’re going to proceed to absolute values
because after which we are going to combine the two and find its solution set.

ABSOLUTE VALUE
The absolute value of a number 𝒙, is denoted by |𝑥|, defined by the formula

|𝑥| = {𝑥 𝑥≥0
}
−𝑥 𝑥<0

Illustrative Example 13
a) |−3| = −(−3) = 3
b) |0| = 0
c) |6| = 6
d) |−|𝑐|| = |𝑐|
 Note that absolute value is a distance of a real number from the origin 0, meaning it can
never be negative. However, it can be equal to zero. In symbols, |𝑐| ≥ 0 for every real number c,
and |𝑐| = 0 if and only if 𝑐 = 0.
Moreover, there is an alternate definition of absolute value denoted by

|𝑥| = √𝑥 2
since the square root function always denotes a nonnegative root of 𝑥. But it is important
that you write |𝑥| = √𝑥 2 , do not write it as 𝑥 = √𝑥 2 unless you know that 𝑥 ≥ 0.

ABSOLUTE VALUE PROPERTIES

1. |−𝑏| = |𝑏|
2. |𝑎𝑏| = |𝑎||𝑏|
𝑎 |𝑎|
3. |𝑏| = |𝑏|
4. |𝑎 + 𝑏| ≤ |𝑎| + |𝑏|

Based on the first property, the absolute value of a number and its inverse are just the same.
On the second property, it implies that the absolute value of the product of two numbers is the
same with the product of the absolute value of each number. On the third property, the absolute
value of the quotient of two numbers is equal to the quotient of the absolute value of each
number. Lastly, the fourth property is known as Triangle Inequality wherein the absolute value of
the sum of two numbers is less than or equal to the sum of their absolute values. In relation to
the fourth property, |𝑎 + 𝑏| is less than |𝑎| + |𝑏| when 𝑎 and 𝑏 have opposite signs,
otherwise|𝑎 + 𝑏| = |𝑎| + |𝑏|.

Illustrative Example 14
a) |−6 + 8| = |2| < |−6| + |8| = 14
b) |6 + 8| = |14| = |6| + |8| = 14
c) |−2 − 4| = |−6| = |6| = |−2| + |−4| = 6

Illustrative Example 15
Solve the equation |2𝑥 − 5| = 10
To solve this equation, we are going to use its equivalent equation which is 2𝑥 − 5 = ±10, hence
we are going to solve two equations
2𝑥 − 5 = 10 2𝑥 − 5 = −10
2𝑥 = 15 Add 5 to both sides 2𝑥 = −5
15 5
𝑥= 2
Multiply ½ to both sides 𝑥 = −2

15 5
The solutions of |2𝑥 − 5| = 10 are 𝑥 = 2
and 𝑥 = − 2.
INEQUALITIES INVOLVING ABSOLUTE VALUE
In solving inequalities with absolute value, we make use of the following
properties.

Table 4. Properties of Absolute Value Inequalities from Stewart, Redlin& Watson (2012)

On this table, the variable 𝑥, can be replaced by any algebraic expression. As you can
observed among the four properties the value of c here is assumed to be greater than zero.
Based on the first property, why do you think that 𝒙 should be greater than −𝑐 but less than 𝑐. On
the latter part quite understandable hence, it’s what the first property is telling us. What about the former
part? Do you have any idea? Yes, it is so, because of the concept of absolute value, if the value will be less
than −𝑐, its absolute value will be larger and it contradict with the first property. The same is true with the
other properties, just keep in mind the concept of absolute value.
In solving absolute value inequalities, it just similar in solving equations. We are just going to utilize
the properties of real numbers or the axioms that we had discussed already.

Illustrative Example 16. Solving an Absolute Value Inequality

a) Solve the inequality |𝑥 − 10| < 5.
Solution: The inequality |𝑥 − 10| < 5 is equivalent to,
−5 < 𝑥 − 10 < 5 Property 1
−5 + 10 < 𝑥 − 10 + 10 < 5 + 10 Add 10 to both sides
5 < 𝑥 < 15 Simplify
The solution set is an open interval (5, 15).

b) |2𝑥 − 5| ≤ 2
Solution: The inequality |2𝑥 − 5| ≤ 2 is equivalent to,
−2 ≤ 2𝑥 − 5 ≤ 2 Property 2
−2 + 5 ≤ 2𝑥 − 5 + 5 ≤ 2 + 5 Add 5 to both sides
3 ≤ 2𝑥 ≤ 7 Simplify
 1 1 1
3 (2) ≤ 2𝑥 (2) ≤ 7 (2) Multiply ½ to both sides
3 7
2
≤𝑥≤2 Simplify
3 7
The solution set is the closed interval [ , ].
2 2
c) |2𝑥 − 3| ≥ 1

Solution: The inequality |2𝑥 − 3| ≥ 1 is equivalent to,

2𝑥 − 3 ≤ −1 or 2𝑥 − 3 ≥ 1
2𝑥 − 3 + 3 ≤ −1 + 3 or 2𝑥 − 3 + 3 ≥ 1 + 3
2𝑥 ≤ 2 or 2𝑥 ≥ 4
𝑥≤1 or 𝑥≥2
The solution set is (−∞, 1] ∪ [2, +∞).