Chapter 2 Inequalities

After the completion of the lectures and tutorials associated with this chapter you should be able to: Understand the basic rules of order in the real numbers. Use these rules to solve simple inequalities including quadratics and those involving the modulus function. TEXTBOOK Adams P1 - P3 are relevant here.

2.1

Basic Inequalities

Real numbers have a property of order or size. When the real number a is greater than or equal to the real number b, we write a b. When x is smaller than y, we write x < y etc. Important properties are: a > b a + c > b + c a, b, c R

a > b and c > 0 ac > bc a > b and c < 0 ac < bc NOTE There are equivalent versions with > replaced by etc. A consequence of these properties is that for example: ab > 0 [(a > 0) and (b > 0)] or [(a < 0) and (b < 0)] 1

CHAPTER 2. INEQUALITIES

2.2

Solving Inequalities

These rules allow us to solve inequalities. Inequalities generally take the form: p(x) > 0 where p(x) is some expression in an unknown quantity x. The < sign could be replaced by , < or . The object is usually to determine the solution set S = {x : p(x) > 0 is true} This involves showing two things: If p(x) > 0 then x S If x S then p(x) > 0. Determining S means expressing it as the union of intervals etc.

Example 15 Solve x2 > 9 Claim solution set is {x R : (x < 3) or (x > 3)} Proof Suppose x2 > 9 x2 9 > 0 (x 3)(x + 3) > 0 [(x 3) > 0 and (x + 3) > 0] or [(x 3) < 0 and (x + 3) < 0] x (, 3) (3, )

Conversely, if x (, 3) (3, ) then x2 > 9 (check this). So this is the solution set.

NOTE It is assumed that all readers can solve such quadratic inequalities. However, more subtle examples require real care.

2.2. SOLVING INEQUALITIES

Example 16 Solve 2x + 3 > x. NOTE ALWAYS means the positive square root, and for x to exist we must have x 0. Solution 2x + 3 > x 2x + 3 > x2 DANGER 0 > x2 2x 3 0 > (x + 1)(x 3) x (1, 3)

NOTE Squaring on both sides requires real care. Is is only valid if both sides are known to be 0. This answer above is not quite correct. The way forward is to use two cases: (a) x 0, (b) x < 0. Part (a) Since both sides are 0 then argue as above to obtain (1, 3) [0, ) = [0, 3). 3 Part (b) When x < 0 then we only have x available. Here we 2 3 have only x < 0, and for these x, in 2x + 3 > x, LHS 0 and 2 RHS < 0, so 3 , 0 is in the solution set. 2 So the solution set is 3 3 , 0 [0, 3) = , 3 . 2 2 We must now check that every member of this set satises the inequality (exercise). NOTES (i) Take care when squaring. (ii) Take care when cross-multiplying, in fact avoid using cross multiplying if possible.

CHAPTER 2. INEQUALITIES

Example 17 Solve 2 x+3 > x+3 2

CANNOT multiply both sides by (x + 3) and 2 to give 4 > (x + 3)2 Why? Solution Firstly, note that x = 3 is excluded since the LHS is not dened. We have 2 x+3 > x+3 2 x+3 2 x+3 2 4 (x + 3)2 2(x + 3) (2 (x + 3))(2 + (x + 3)) 2(x + 3) (x 1)(x + 5) 2(x + 3) > 0 > 0 > 0 > 0

Which gives (check this): solution set = (, 5) (3, 1)

2.3. INEQUALITIES INVOLVING THE MODULUS FUNCTION

2.3

Inequalities Involving the Modulus Function

Denition 2.1 the modulus function, denoted by |x| is dened by:. |x| = x x : : when x 0 when x < 0

2.3.1

Basic Properties of the Modulus Function

(i) |x| = | x| for all x R (ii) |a b| = |b a| for all a, b R (iii) |x|2 = x2 for all x R (iv) |x| < b b < x < b where b > 0 (there is a similar version for )

Example 18 Solve |x + 2| > |x 1| |x + 2|2 (x + 2)2 x2 + 4x + 4 6x x |x 1|2 (x 1)2 x2 2x + 1 3 1 > 2 > > > >

1 Now check that every x ( , ) is a solution. 2 NOTE In the rst stage of the solution it is okay to square both sides of the equation as each side is 0.

If in doubt you can go back to the denition and split the problem into cases:

CHAPTER 2. INEQUALITIES

Example 19 Solve |x2 40| < 24 Using property (iv) of the modulus function, we have: |x2 40| < 24 Suppose 24 < x2 40 < 24 24 < x2 40 < 24 16 < x2 < 64 x (8, 4) (4, 8)

Now check that every element of this set is a solution.

2.4

Proving inequalities

Sometimes it is necessary to prove that an inequality holds for a range of values of its variable(s).

Example 20 Proof:

Prove that (n + 1)3 < 2n3 for all n 4.

(n + 1)3 now 3n + 1 (n + 1)3 also 4n (n + 1)3 nally 4n2 (n + 1)3

= < < < <

n3 + 3n2 + 3n + 1 4n (since n > 1) n3 + 3n2 + 4n n2 (since n 4) n3 + 4n2 n3 n3 + n3