Lesson 3.

Rational Inequalities
Learning Competency

At the end of the lesson, the learners should solve

rational equations and inequalities (M11GM-Ib-3).
 Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learners should be able to

do the following:

● Define rational inequalities and critical values.

● Solve rational inequalities.

Rational expressions can be used
in modeling several important
situations, such as in preparing
for the necessary concentration
of a drug, in determining the
breakeven point of a product,
and in constructing materials
given the measure of its side or
its volume.
What if there is a minimum or
maximum amount of
concentration that a patient
needs? How are we going to
prepare it?

In these instances, we can use

the concept of rational
inequalities.
In this lesson, we will study about rational inequalities.
 Essential Questions

● What are critical values?

● What are rational inequalities?

● How do you solve rational inequalities?

 Learn about It!

Inequality
An inequality shows a comparison between different
quantities or expressions using the symbols , , , , or .

Example:
The expression shows a comparison between
and .
 Learn about It!

Rational Inequality
A rational inequality uses any of the symbols , , , , or , and
contains at least one rational expression

Example:
The expressions is a rational inequality.
 Learn about It!

Critical Value
A critical value of a rational expression is a number that
makes the expression undefined or equal to zero.

Example:
In the expression , the critical values are and because make
makes it zero and makes it undefined.
 Try it!Practice
Let’s

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
1. Rewrite the inequality such that the left-hand side is
written as a single rational expression and the right-hand
side becomes zero. 
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
2. Factor the numerator and the denominator.

Both the numerators and denominators are completely

factored.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
3. Find the critical values of the rational expression on the
left-hand side of the inequality.

This can be done by writing the numerator and the

denominator separately, equating each of them to zero, and
solving the resulting equations.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
Numerator:

Denominator:
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
The critical values are and .
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
The roots of the numerator make the rational expression
equal to 0. Thus, these values must be included in the final
solution set. The root of the denominator, however, is not
included because it will make the rational expression
undefined.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
4. Use the critical values as bounds to divide the set of real
numbers into intervals.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
Remember the following guidelines:
a. The symbols and always come with parentheses
because they cannot possibly be included in any interval
of real numbers.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
b. If the inequality involves the strict inequality symbols , ,
or , all intervals should be enclosed in parentheses
because their endpoints cannot possibly become part of
the solution set.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
c. If the inequality involves the non-strict inequality
symbols or , the roots of the numerator should be
included in their respective intervals using the symbols
or , while the roots of the denominator should be
excluded using the symbols or .
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
The number line helps you to divide the set of real numbers
into intervals. Use a shaded circle if the value is included in
the solution set, and a hollow circle if not.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
As indicated by the previous guidelines, we use the critical
values and to divide the set of real numbers into the
intervals , , .
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
5. Construct a table of signs for the rational inequality.

The top row of the table should contain the intervals from
the previous step, while the leftmost column should contain
the test point, the factors of the numerator, and the factors
of the denominator.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
5. Construct a table of signs for the rational inequality.

Add another row at the bottom for the entries that

correspond to the entire rational expression.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
 

Test Point      
     
     

     
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
6. To fill an entry on the table, choose a convenient number
from the corresponding interval on top, but do not choose
a critical value. Substitute this number into the expression
on the left, then simplify. Take the sign of the answer you
obtained (the actual value does not matter) and write it on
the table.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
 

Test Point    
     
     

     
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
7. Determine the sign of the entire rational expression for
each interval by multiplying the signs in each column.
Write the answers in the last row of the table. 
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
 

Test Point    
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
8. Determine the solution set by forming the union of all
intervals that satisfy the inequality.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
Recall that the left-hand side of the inequality is the rational
expression in the bottom row of the table, and this inequality
states that the rational expression is greater than or equal to
zero.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
This means that our solution set consists of intervals for
which the expression is positive. These intervals are and as
shown in the table.
 
Therefore, the solution of the inequality is .
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Another method may be used in solving rational inequalities. We

call this as the method of test values. The steps 1–4 from the
previous steps are the same. The next steps are as follows:
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
5. Choose a convenient test value for each interval.
Substitute each of the chosen values to the given rational
inequality and simplify.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
Interval: 𝑥 −2
∧≥ 0
Test Point: 𝑥 +2
−3 − 2
∧≥ 0
− 3 +2
The interval is a solution
−5
∧≥ 0
−1
5 ∧≥ 0 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
Interval: 𝑥 −2
∧≥ 0
Test Point: 𝑥 +2
−0 − 2
∧≥ 0
− 0+2
The interval is not a solution.
−2
∧≥ 0
2
− 1∧≥ 0 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐞
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
Interval: 𝑥 −2
∧≥ 0
Test Point: 𝑥 +2
3 −2
∧≥ 0
3 +2
The interval is a solution.
1
∧≥ 0 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞
5
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 1: Solve the rational inequality .

Solution:
6. Determine the solution set by forming the union of all
intervals that satisfy the inequality.

Therefore, the solution set of the inequality is .

 Solution to Let’s Practice

Note:
Unlike in solving rational equations, it is not valid to multiply
both sides of an inequality by a variable.

Multiplying both sides of an inequality by a positive number

retains the inequality symbol, while multiplying both sides of
an inequality by a negative number reverses the inequality
symbol. The sign of the variable is unknown. Thus, it is not
valid to multiply both sides of an inequality by a variable.
 Try it!Practice
Let’s

Example 2: Solve for in the rational inequality .

 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Solve for in the rational inequality .

Solution:
1. Rewrite the inequality such that the left-hand side is
written as a single rational expression and the right-hand
side becomes zero. 
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Solve for in the rational inequality .

Solution:
In this case, we do not have to manipulate the inequality
because the left-hand side is written as a single expression,
while the right-hand side is already zero.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Solve for in the rational inequality .

Solution:
2. Factor the numerator and the denominator.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Solve for in the rational inequality .

Solution:
3. Find the critical values of the rational expression on the
left-hand side of the inequality.

This can be done by writing the numerator and the

denominator separately, equating each of them to zero, and
solving the resulting equations.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Solve for in the rational inequality .

Solution:
Numerator:
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Solve for in the rational inequality .

Solution:
Denominator:

The critical values are and .

 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Solve for in the rational inequality .

Solution:
4. Use the critical values as bounds to divide the set of real
numbers into intervals.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Solve for in the rational inequality .

Solution:
The values and are not included in the solution set since
they make the fraction equal to zero. The value
is also not included in the solution set since it makes the
fraction undefined.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Solve for in the rational inequality .

Solution:
We use the critical values and to divide the set of real
numbers into the intervals, , , , and .
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Solve for in the rational inequality .

Solution:
5. Construct a table of signs for the rational inequality.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Solve for in the rational inequality .

Solution:
 
Test Point        
       
       
       
       
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Solve for in the rational inequality .

Solution:
6. Fill out the entries of the table.

Choose a convenient number from the corresponding

interval on top, but do not choose a critical value. Substitute
this number into the expression on the left, then simplify.
Take the sign of the answer you obtained (the actual value
does not matter), and write it on the table.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Solve for in the rational inequality .

Solution:
 
Test Point

       
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Solve for in the rational inequality .

Solution:
7. Determine the sign of the entire rational expression for
each interval by multiplying the signs in each column.
Write the answers in the last row of the table.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Solve for in the rational inequality .

Solution:
 
Test Point
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Solve for in the rational inequality .

Solution:
8. Determine the solution set by forming the union of all
intervals that satisfy the inequality.

The rational expression in the left-hand side of the

inequality is less than zero.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Solve for in the rational inequality .

Solution:
8. Determine the solution set by forming the union of all
intervals that satisfy the inequality.

This means that our solution set consists of intervals for

which the expression is negative. These intervals are and
as shown in the table.
 Solution to Let’s Practice

Example 2: Solve for in the rational inequality .

Solution:
Therefore, the solution of the inequality is .
 Try It!

Individual Practice:

1. Solve the rational inequality .

2. Solve for in the rational inequality .

 Try It!

Group Practice: To be done in groups of three

A drug is injected into the bloodstream of a patient

through his arm. The concentration (in milligrams per
liter) of the drug in the bloodstream hours after the
injection is approximately given by . When will the
concentration of the drug in the arm be 0.02 milligram
per milliliter or greater?
 Key Points

● An inequality is a mathematical statement that shows a

comparison between different quantities or expressions
using the symbols , , , , or .

● A rational inequality uses any of the symbols , , , , or

whose terms are rational expressions.

● A critical value of a rational expression is a number that

makes the expressions undefined or equal to zero.
 Bibliography

Khan Academy. "Rational inequalities." Accessed March 3, 2019.

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra-home/alg-rational-expr-eq-func/alg-rational-inequaliti
es/v/rational-inequalities

Purple Math. "Solving Rational Inequalities." Accessed March 3, 2019.

https://www.purplemath.com/modules/ineqrtnl.htm