Basic Mathematics

Inequalities

We have seen many kinds of equations.

Now, let’s start looking at inequations.
Recall
(a) a > b ⇒ a ± c > b ± c
 Question!

Q Solve for x:
(a) x - 3 > 0
(b) 3x - 2 < 0
(c) -3x + 2 < 0
 Question!

Q Solve the following inequality.

5(4x - 3) - 8 < 7 (x - 5)
Solution :
Wavy curve Method
 Wavy curve Method

So far we,have learnt solving equations mostly, in mathematics.

Now let’s start dealing with inequations.

By end of this method we will solve following question in 10

seconds.
 Question!

Q Solve for x: (x - 1) (x - 4) < 0

Solution :
(x - 1) (x - 4) < 0
We should want those values of x for which

(x - 1) and (x - 4) are of opposite sign

(x - 1) - + +

(x - 4) - - +

(x - 1) (x - 4) + 1 - 4 +

x ∈ (1, 4)
 Question!

Q Solve for x: (x - 3) (x - 5) > 0

Solution :
(x - 3) (x - 5) > 0

(x - 3) - + +

(x - 5) - - +
x ∈ (-∞, 3) ∪ (5, ∞)
(x - 3) (x - 5) + 3 - 5 +

3 5
 Steps of Wavy curve Method:

Make sure RHS is zero & coefficient of x in all the factors is +ve.

Step 1: Put all factors equal to zero & mark corresponding values
of x on real line.

Step 2: Put + on extreme right & change the sign alternatively

moving toward left.
 Question!

Q Solve for x: (x - 1) (x - 4) > 0

Solution :

(x - 1) (x - 4) > 0
x = 1, 4

x ∈ (-∞, 1) ∪ (4, ∞)
 Question!

Q Solve for x: (3x - 2) (x - 4) ≤ 0

Solution :
(3x - 2) (x - 4) ≤ 0

4
 Question!

Q Solve the following inequalities.

(a) x2 - 8x + 7 ≥ 0
(b) x2 + 3x - 40 ≤ 0

Ex 8
 Question!

Q Solve the following inequalities.

(a) x2 - 8x + 7 ≥ 0

Ex 8
Solution :

x2 - 8x + 7 ≥ 0
⇒ (x - 1) (x - 7) ≥ 0
x = 1, 7
+ − +
1 7
x ∈ (-∞, 1] ∪ [7, ∞)
 Question!

Q Solve the following inequalities.

(b) x2 + 3x - 40 ≤ 0

Ex 8
Solution :

x2 + 3x - 40 ≤ 0
⇒ (x + 8) (x - 5) ≤ 0
x = -8, 5
+ − +
-8 5
x ∈ [-8, 5]
 Question!

Q Solve for x: (x - 3) (4x - 1) (x + 2) ≤ 0

Solution :

(x - 3) (4x - 1) (x + 2) ≤ 0

-2 3
 Question!

Q (x - 2) (3x - 5) (x + 3) < 0

D
 Question!

Q (x - 2) (3x - 5) (x + 3) < 0

D
Solution :
 Question!

Q
Solution :
 Question!

Q
Solution :
 Question!

Q
Solution :
 Question!

D None
 Question!

D None
Solution :
 Question!

Q Solve

D
 Question!

Q Solve

D
Solution :

− + − +
−1 2 4
 Question!

Q
Solution :
 Question!

Q Solve the following inequalities.

(a) x2 - 2x + 5 > 3 + x
(b) (x + 2) (x - 3) ≤ x - 3
 Question!

Q Solve the following inequalities.

(a) x2 - 2x + 5 > 3 + x
Solution :

+ − +
1 2
 Question!

Q Solve the following inequalities.

(b) (x + 2) (x - 3) ≤ x - 3
Solution :

+ − +
−1 3
 Question!

Q (x2 + 1) (x - 2) (x - 4) > 0
Solution :
Since (x2 + 1) is always positive it will not affect the inequality.
Thus
(x – 2) (x – 4) > 0
x = 2, 4
 Question!

Q Solve for x: x2 < 9

Solution :

-3
3
 Question!

Q
Solution :

-4 4
 Question!

Q (x - 2) (x - 3) < 0 & (x - 5) (x - 6) > 0

Solution :

5
2 3

2 3

Common in both is (2, 3)

 Basic Mathematics

Generalized Wavy Curve Method

 Basic Mathematics

Generalized Wavy Curve Method

Sometimes, when using the wavy curve method, some factors may
not affect the inequality in the usual way.
Generalized Wavy Curve Method

Algorithm of Generalized Wavy Curve Method

Make sure the RHS is zero and the coefficient of x in all the factors
is positive.
Step 1
Put all the factors equal to zero and mark the corresponding values
of x on real line.
Generalized Wavy Curve Method
Step 2
Put “+” on the extreme right and start moving towards left. If you
encounter an odd power factor, then change the sign, and if you
encounter an even power factor, then continue the same sign.
 Question!

Solve the following inequation.

Q
 Question!
Solve the following inequation.
Q (a)
Solution :

+ + − + +
−7 −3 2 4
 Question!
Solve the following inequation.
Q (b)
Solution :

− − − +
−3 1 2
 Question!
Solve the following inequation.
Q (c)
Solution :

+ + − − +
4 5 6 7
 Question!
Solve the following inequation.
Q (d)
Solution :

+ + − − +
−1 3 5 7