MATT101 / MATV111 / MATH111

Algebra Chapter 1
Absolute Value
Absolute Value: Some Properties
For any real numbers a and b :
• | a | 0 and | a | 0 if and only if a  0
• a  a
• a a
• a  a and a  b  b  a
• a 2  a 2 and a 2  a
• ab  a b
• a a (NB) Triangle Inequality: a  b  a  b ;
 if b  0
b b a  b  a  b if and only if ab  0
Equations and Inequalities
Let c be any positive real number. If x   then:
• x  c if and only if x  c or x  c

• x  c if and only if  c  x  c

• x  c if and only if x  c or x  c
Solving Equations and Inequalities
Solve for x:
• 2x  8

• x2  2  1

• x5 9
Solving Equations and Inequalities
Solve for x:
11
• 1 4x 
13
• 3  2x  1

•  x  3
3
Solving Equations and Inequalities
Solve for x:
• x 1  3  x

• x2  x

• 3 x 5