Further Pure 1

Lesson 8
Inequalities
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Inequalities
Inequalities involve the relationships >,<,,
There are two types of inequality
Type 1 Those that are only true for certain
values.
Example: x
2
> 9, when x > 3 or x < -3
Type 2 Those that are always true.
Example: x
2
+ y
2
0, for all x,y in the reals.


In this lesson we will be looking at the first type of
inequalities, and how to solve the inequality.
9 e > + y x y x , , 0
2 2
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Drawing Inequalities
You can either write an inequality algebraically or you
can show it with a diagram.
You need to be familiar with either method.
x < a
x > a
x a
x a
a < x b


Note that a solid end is used for & and an empty
end is used for < & >.

a b
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Manipulating Inequalities
0 , > p for
a y a x y x + > + >
py px y x > >
y b x a y x b a + > + > > ,
z x z y y x > > > &
ny nx y x < >
0 , < n for
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Solving Inequalities
We are going to look at solving inequalities of
the form f(x) > 0.
This can be solved 2 different ways.
Method 1 - By plotting the graph of f(x) and
then examining where the graph is above the
x-axis.
Method 2 - By solving the equation using an
algebraic method.
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Method 1 - Graphically
Solve the inequality


We have already learnt how to plot this graph in
lesson 7.
Just by studying
the graph you
can see where
the line is above
the x-axis.
-3 < x < 1 & 6 < x
0
) 1 )( 3 (
6
>
+

x x
x
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Method 2 - Algebraically
We can use a table to investigate when the graph is positive
and when it is negative.
There are three key points on the x-axis,
the two asymptotes and the value of x when y = 0.









From the table you can see that -3 < x < 1 & 6 < x
0
) 1 )( 3 (
6
>
+

x x
x
+
+ + +
+ +


) 1 )( 3 (
6
+

x x
x
) 6 ( x
) 3 ( + x
) 1 ( x
3 < x 1 3 < < x 6 1 < < x x < 6
=

+ =
+

=
+ +

+ =
+ +
+
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Inequalities of the form
f(x) g(x) Method 1
Solve the inequality x + 1 < 2/x
We can sketch y = x + 1 and
y = 2/x
Now we need to find the x
co-ordinates of where the two
graphs meet.
We need to solve
x + 1 = 2/x
x
2
+ x = 2
x
2
+ x - 2 = 0
(x + 2)(x - 1) = 0
x = -2 & 1
From the graph we can see
that the solution is.
x < -2 & 0 < x < 1
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Inequalities of the form
f(x) g(x) Method 2
Solve the inequality x + 1 < 2/x
x + 1 2/x < 0
x
2
+ x 2 < 0
x
(x 1)(x + 2) < 0
x
+
+ + +
+ +


x
x x ) 2 )( 1 ( +
) 1 ( x
) 2 ( + x
x
2 < x 0 2 < < x 1 0 < < x x < 1
=

+ =

+
=
+
+
+ =
+
+ +
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Inequalities of the form
f(x) g(x) Method 3
The third method is to re-
arrange the equation so
that it is equal to zero and
then sketch the graph.
(x 1)(x + 2) < 0
x
If y = 0, x = -2 & 1
If x = 0, y is undefined
As x tends to infinity y
tends towards x.
As x tends to minus infinity
y tends towards x.
From the graph you can
see that x < -2 & 0 < x < 1
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Questions
Solve the following inequalities graphically
and algebraically.
1) (x+2)(x-5)(2x-3) < 0
2) x
2
x + 6
3) 2/x > 0.5x
4) 2x-1 9
x-1 x+1