THEME 1: FUNCTIONS

UNIT 1.1 Numbers

Intervals
Inequalities

Steward Appendix page A2 –A6

The Number System
 Natural numbers
ℕ: 1, 2, 3, …
 The Integers
ℤ: {…-2, -1, 0, 1, 2,…}
 The Rational numbers
𝑎
ℚ: , 𝑎&𝑏 ∈ ℤ , 𝑏 ≠ 0
𝑏
2 22
Examples: ;5 ; ; 8 ; 0 ; 4.333 …
3 7

 The Irrational numbers

ℚ’: Examples: 𝜋 ; 𝑒 ; 2 ; 13 ; non-recurring numbers

 The Real numbers

ℝ=ℚ∪ℚ’ (the union of all Rational and Irrational numbers)
NB !
Table of Intervals
Steward page A4
Intervals
[ )
Inequalities
< < ≤ ≤ < ≤ ≤ <
Number line

-2 3
Set-builder Notation, Interval Notation and
Number Lines

Set-builder Interval Number

Notation Notation Line
{𝑥/−2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3}

(-1,4)

{𝑥/−2 < 𝑥 ≤ 3}

[3,∞)

{𝑥/𝑥 < 5}

(-∞, ∞)
UNION and INTERSECTION

UNION OR ∪

INTERSECTION AND ∩

Activity
1. {𝑥 ∈ ℤ | −4 ≤ 𝑥 < 1} = { }
2. 0,3 ∩ 1,4 =
3. 0.3 ∪ 1,4 =
INEQUALITIES
Rules for inequalities (Steward page A4)

1. If 𝑎 < 𝑏 then 𝑎 + 𝑐 < 𝑏 + 𝑐

2. If 𝑎 < 𝑏 and 𝑐 < 𝑑 then
𝑎+𝑐 <𝑏+𝑑
3. If 𝑎 < 𝑏 and 𝑐 > 0 then
𝑎𝑐 < 𝑏𝑐
4. If 𝑎 < 𝑏 and 𝑐 < 0 then
𝑎𝑐 > 𝑏𝑐
1 1
5. If 0 < 𝑎 < 𝑏 then >
𝑎 𝑏
Activity: Solve for 𝒙. Answers in
interval notation.
Example 1: 1 + 𝑥 < 7𝑥 + 5
Example 2: 2 < 3𝑥 − 5 < 13
Example 3: 𝑥 2 − 11𝑥 + 24 ≤ 0
Example 4: 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 > 4𝑥
1
Example 5: <8
𝑥
1
Example 6: −2 < ≤6
𝑥
𝑥
Example 7: ≥2
𝑥−1
Example 1: 1 + 𝑥 < 7𝑥 + 5
∴ −4 < 6𝑥
4
∴𝑥≻ −
6
2 2
∴𝑥≻ − 𝑥∈ (− , ∞)
3 3

Example 2: 2 < 3𝑥 − 5 < 13

∴ 7 < 3𝑥 < 18
7 7
∴ <𝑥<6 𝑥∈ ( , 6)
3 3
Example 3: 𝑥 2 − 11𝑥 + 24 ≤ 0
∴ (𝑥 − 8)(𝑥 − 3) ≤ 0

3 8 (the visual method)

∴ 𝑥 ∈ [3 , 8]

Example 4: 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 > 4𝑥
∴ 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 > 0
∴𝑥 𝑥+4 𝑥−1 >0
(the visual method)

-4 0 1
∴ 𝑥 ∈ (−4,0) ∪ (1, ∞)
Example 5 (method 1: the table method)
1
<8
𝑥
1
∴ −8<0
𝑥
1−8𝑥
∴ <0
𝑥
𝟖𝒙−𝟏
∴ >0
𝑥
1
0 critical values
8
𝟖𝒙 − 𝟏 − − + the table
𝑥 − + +

+ − + the solution

1
∴ 𝑥 ∈ (−∞ , 0) ∪ ( , ∞)
8
Example 5 (method 2: the visual method):
1
<8
𝑥
Multiply each term with a 𝑥 2 because 𝑥 2 is always positive
∴ 𝑥 < 8𝑥 2
∴ 8𝑥 2 − 𝑥 > 0
∴ 𝑥(8𝑥 − 1) > 0

1
0
8

1
∴ 𝑥 ∈ (−∞ , 0) ∪ ( , ∞)
8
 1
Example 6 (method 1: the table method) −2 < ≤6
𝑥
Split the problem into two sums
1 1
A. −2 < AND B. ≤ 6
𝑥 𝑥
1 1
∴ +2>0 ∴ −6≤0
𝑥 𝑥
1+2𝑥 1−6𝑥 𝟔𝒙−𝟏
∴ >0 ∴ ≤0 ∴ ≥0
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥

1 1
− 0 0
2 6
𝟏 + 𝟐𝒙 − + + 𝟔𝒙 − 𝟏 − − +
𝑥 − − + 𝑥 − + +
+ − + + − +

1 1
𝑥 ∈ (−∞ , − ) ∪ (0 , ∞) 𝑥 ∈ (− ∞, 0) ∪ [ , ∞)
2 6
Take note! Why is the zero excluded?
Example 6 (conclusion)
Now we must get the intersection of A and B
1
𝑥 ∈ (−∞ , − ) ∪ (0 , ∞)
2
∩ 𝑥 ∈ −∞ , 0 ∪ [
1
6
, ∞)

𝟏 𝟏
− 𝟎
𝟐 𝟔

Final solution:
𝟏 𝟏
𝒙∈ −∞, − ∪ [ , ∞)
𝟐 𝟔
 1
Example 6 (method 2: the visual method) −2 < ≤6
𝑥
Multiply each term with a 𝑥 2 (because 𝑥 2 is always positive)
∴ −2𝑥 2 < 𝑥 ≤ 6𝑥 2
Split the problem into two sums
A. 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 > 0 AND B. 6𝑥 2 − 𝑥 ≥ 0
∴ 𝑥(2𝑥 + 1) > 0 ∴ 𝑥(6𝑥 − 1) ≥ 0

1 1
− 0 0
2 6
1 1
𝑥 ∈ (−∞ , − ) ∪ (0 , ∞) 𝑥 ∈ −∞ , 0 ∪ [ , ∞)
2 6

Final solution:Take the intersection of A and B:

𝟏 𝟏
𝒙 ∈ −∞, − ∪ [ , ∞)
𝟐 𝟔
Example 7: (method 1: table method)
𝑥
≥2
𝑥−1
𝑥
∴ −2≥0
𝑥−1
𝑥−2(𝑥−1)
∴ ≥0
𝑥−1
−𝑥+2 𝒙−𝟐
∴ ≥0 ∴ ≤0
𝑥−1 𝑥−1

1 2
𝒙−𝟐 − − +
𝑥−1 − + +

+ − +

Solution: 𝑥 ∈ (1 , 2] (why is the one excluded?)

Example 7: (method 2: visual method)
𝑥
≥2
𝑥−1
Multiply each term with (𝑥 − 1)2 because (𝑥 − 1)2 is always
positive
∴ 𝑥(𝑥 − 1) ≥ 2(𝑥 − 1)2
∴ 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 ≥ 2𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 2
∴ 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 2 ≤ 0
∴ (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 2) ≤ 0

1 2

Solution: 𝑥 ∈ (1 , 2] (why is the one excluded?)

 Check the learning objectives
 Check the additional notes in the study
guide page 9 and 10
 Do the recommended problems