CHAPTER 4

INEQUALITY AND ABSOLUTE VALUES

INEQUALITIES
The following are some properties of inequalities:

4.1 SOLVING LINEAR INEQUALITIES

There are certain rules that can be used to manipulate inequalities:

1. Any real number can be added to or subtracted from both sides of the inequality and the new
inequality will still be true.

For Example: (a) 7 > 5 is true.

(i) If 2 is added to both sides of the inequality, we obtain
7+2>5+2
9>7 which is still true

(ii) If -8 is added to both sides of the inequality, we obtain

7-8 >5-8
-1 > -3 which is true

(b) If x – 8 > 5 then x > 13. :

Substitute x-values greater than 13 into the original inequality to confirm the validity of the solution

2. Both sides of an inequality can be multiplied by any positive real number and the new inequality
will still be true. However, if both sides of an inequality are multiplied by a negative real number,
the direction of the inequality sign must be reversed.
For Example: (a) 7 > 5 is true.
(i) If both sides are multiplied by 2, we get
2(7) > 2(5),
14 > 10, which is true.

(ii) However, if both sides are multiplied by -2, he inequality sign must be changed
from > to <: -2(7) > -2(5),
-14 > -10, which is true???
NOTE: - 14 > - 10 is untrue or FALSE

(b) (i) If then multiplying by 2, we get

,
. [Check the solution!]

(ii) If then multiplying by , we get

. [Check the solution!]

Example 4.1.1: For what values of x do the inequality hold? [Check your solution!]

We need to get all the terms in x on the left-hand side, and all the constant terms (numbers) on the right-
hand side of the inequality. To achieve this we add (3 – 3x) to both sides:

Now we multiply by which is negative, so we reverse the inequality:

Checking: Substitute x = −5 (since − 5  −4) into both sides of the original inequality.
LHS RHS

Substitute x = -5: -5 – 3 ≥ 3(-5) + 5

-8 ≥ -10 which is true

For x = −4 : LHS = −4 − 3 = −7, and RHS = 3(−4) + 5 = −12 + 5 = −7  LHS = RHS

Therefore x  −4 is the solution to the inequality

Example 4.1.2: Find the values of x that satisfy the following inequality:

Solution:: In problems such as this one we must SPLIT the given double inequality into its two
component parts. In this case, the two inequalities and
must BOTH be satisfied.
(a) Consider the inequality: : By adding (-1 - 2x) to both sides of the
inequality, we get:

(b) Next consider the inequality: By adding (-3+3x) to both sides we obtain

Thus the given inequality is satisfied if both and . We can combine these in the form:
. [Read: x must be greater than or equal to -2 but less than or equal to 1]. Check!

Checking: To check the validity of our answer we use the values x = −2, 0 and 1
For x = -2: -2+1

which is true.

For x = 0: 0+1

which is true.

For x = 1: 1+1

which is true.

Therefore, the solution to is

Exercises 4.1: Solve the following inequalities. Remember to check your answers.
(i) 5x – 6 > -4 (b) 4 – 2x ≤ 0
(c) 3x < 2x – 3 < 5x + 12 (d) 3x < 2x – 3 < 5x

4.2 SOLVING QUADRATIC OR POLYNOMIAL INEQUALITIES

For this section, it is important that you need to know how to find the factors and solve for x.

Example 4.2.1: Solve the following inequalities : (x + 3)(2x - 1) > 0

Factors: (x+3) = 0 or (2x – 1) = 0

x = -3 x=½

Conclusion: ( -∞, -3) U ( ½, ∞)

Example 4.2.2: Solve the following inequalities : (x + 1)(x - 1)(x - 3) > 0

Factors: (x + 1) = 0 or (x - 1) = 0 or (x – 3) = 0
x = -1 x=1 x=3

Table of Signs for (x+1)(x-1)(x-3)

Therefore the solution to (x + 1)( x − 1)( x − 3)  0 is ( − 1,1)  (3, +), that is, − 1  x  1 or x  3

Example 4.2.3: Solve the following inequalities : x2 - 2x - 1 ≤ x + 3

Step 1: Get zero on the right-hand side of the inequality

x2 − 2 x −1  x + 3
 x2 − 2 x −1 − x − 3  0 ... add − x − 3 to both sides

Step 2: Simplify and factor the expression on the left-hand side

x2 − 2x − 1 − x − 3  0
 x 2 − 3x − 4  0
 ( x − 4)( x + 1)  0

Step 3: Determine the values where each of the linear factors equals zero (in order to apply
“The Zero Factor Rule”). We will call these values the “zero values” or “null values” of the
expression.

Now x – 4 = 0 when x = 4 or x + 1 = 0 when x = -1.

Therefore the zero values of the expression are x = -1 or x = 4.

Step 4: Next we look at the signs of each of the factors. In other words, we look for the intervals in
which each of the factors is positive or negative. To do this we make a “table of signs” (or
“sign table” or “sign chart”) as follows:

Therefore, x2 – 2x – 1 ≤ x + 3 in the interval [-1, 4] that is -1 ≤ x ≤ 4.

Checking:

For x = −1: LHS = (−1)2 − 2(−1) − 1 = 2; RHS = −1 + 3 = 2  LHS  RHS

For x = 0 : LHS = (0)2 − 2(0) − 1 = −1; RHS = 0 + 3 = 3  LHS  RHS

For x = 4 : LHS = (4)2 − 2(4) − 1 = 7; RHS = 4 + 3 = 7  LHS  RHS

Exercise 4.2
Use sign tables to solve the following inequalities. Write the solutions in interval notation:

a) x + 4 x  5
2
b) ( x + 1)(2 x − 3)  3

c) x − 5  0
2
d)

4.3 SOLVING RATIONAL INEQUALITIES

Example 4.3.1: Solve (3 −2 x)( x − 4)  0?

x + 3x − 4

Solution:
The algebraic expression in this inequality is called a rational algebraic expression (can you see
why?), and to solve this type of inequality we are also required to make use of a table of signs.

(3 − x)( x − 4) (3 − x)( x − 4)
Factoring: =
x 2 + 3x − 4 ( x − 1)( x + 4)

Factors:

(3 - x) = 0 or (x - 4) = 0 or (x – 1) = 0 or (x + 4) = 0
x=3 x=4 x=1 x = -4

But, since division by zero is not defined, the expression is undefined (UND) at x = 1 and x = −4 and
zero only at x = 3 and x = 4.

(3 − x)( x − 4)
Therefore  0 in the interval (−4,1)  [3, 4]
( x − 1)( x + 4)
 x ( x - 3)
Example 4.3.2: Solve < 0
(2 + x)(3 - x)
Factors:
x=0 or x -3 = 0 or 2+x=0 or 3 – x =0
x=0 x=3 x = -2 x=3

The solution set is ( -∞, -2) U ( 0, 3) U ( 3, ∞)

1+ x
Example 4.3.3: Solve  1
1− x
Solution:
Step 1: First we move all nonzero terms to the left side.
1+ x
−1  0
1− x

Step 2: Simplify using a common denominator.

1 + x − (1 − x )
 0
1− x

Step 3: Fully simplify

1+ x − 1 + x
 0
1− x

2x
 0
1− x

Step 4: Find the factors and solve x

2x = 0 or 1 - x ≠ 0
x = 0 x ≠ 1

The solution set is [0, 1)

Exercise 4.3:

Solve :
(a) x  2 (b)
x −1

(c) x + 2  5 (d)
x+2

4.4 ABSOLUTE VALUE

The absolute value of a number , denoted , is defined as the distance of the number to zero. Since
absolute value is a distance, is never negative.

For instance , since 4 is four units away from zero.

Likewise, since -4 is four units away from zero. It is important to note that the absolute value
bars do not work in the same way as parentheses. We know that , but this is not how the
absolute value works. Instead .

4.4.1 Three definitions of the absolute value:

• Geometric Definition:
Here we think of as the distance of the number to origin on the number line and we use the fact
that distance is never negative. For instance, consider the number line below.

From the number line, we get the following , and .

• The mathematical definition:

There is also a strict mathematical definition of the absolute value for .

x if x0
x =
− x if x0

The mathematical definition works as follows. since and since

.
• The square root definition
is also used. In this case we would get .
Note that will always be true and that we can’t use the definitions on as the value of is
not known.
Rules for the absolute value:

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6) (Triangle inequality)
7)

Example 4.4.1:
Use each of the three definitions of the absolute value discussed above to find the following.
a) b) c)
d) e) f)
g) h) i)

4.4.2 Absolute value equations

The idea of the mathematical definition of the absolute value of a number can be applied to functions.
That is for the function , we can write

 f ( x) if f ( x)  0
f ( x) = 
− f ( x ) if f ( x)  0

Now let us see how to use the definition of the absolute value to solve absolute equations.

Suppose we want to solve the absolute equation , then by applying the definition for
functions we get

if OR , hence if .

Example 4.4.2 (a): Solve

a) b)

Solution:

a) (if ) OR (if ).
Note when solving absolute equations, it is not necessary to specify
the interval of , in other words in Example 1 we could have written
OR .

b) has no solution as the absolute value is never negative!

Example 4.4.2 (b) : Solve

Solution: ⟺ OR
OR
OR .
Check:
@x=7 : @x=-2 :

Conclusion: x = 7 or x = -2 is indeed a valid solution

Example 4.4.2 (c) : Solve
Solution:
At first glance, the formula we used above will do us no good here. It requires the right side of the
equation to be a positive number. It turns out that we can still use it here, but we’re going to have to be
careful with the answers as using this formula will, on occasion introduce an incorrect answer. So,
while we can use the formula we’ll need to make sure we check our solutions to see if they really work.
So, we’ll start off using the formula above as we have in the previous problems and solving the two
linear equations.

OR
⟺ OR 1
OR
OR

Let us now check the two possible solutions.

(1) and , but since the
solution is not valid.
(2) and , now since the solution
is indeed valid.

Example 4.4.2 (d): Solve .

Solution:
This case looks very different from any of the previous problems we’ve worked to this point and in this
case, the formula we’ve been using doesn’t really work at all. However, if we think about this a little
we can see that we’ll still do something similar here to get a solution. Both sides of the equation contain
absolute values and so the only way the two sides are equal will be if the two quantities inside the
absolute value bars are equal or equal but with opposite signs. In other words

OR
⟺ OR 3
OR
OR

Verify as an exercise which of the solutions are valid!

Exercises 4.4.2: Solve the following absolute equations.

1) 2)
3) 4)
5) 6)

4.4.3 Absolute value inequalities

In the previous section, we solved equations that contained absolute values. In this section, we want to
look at inequalities that contain absolute values. Absolute value inequalities can generally be of the type
and .

In general, we have four properties that help us solve these type of inequalities. Alternatively, we could
use the mathematical definition, but more on that later.

Here is a summary of the abovementioned properties:

1)

2)

3)

4)

Example 4.4.3 (a): Solve the .

Solution: Using property 1, we know that

The interval notation for this solution, which you should remember is .

Note that if the inequality in Example 4.4.3 (a) was , then we would have used Property 2
and our solution in interval form would have been a closed interval.

Example 4.4.3 (b) : Solve

Solution: Using Property 4, we know that

⟺ OR
OR
OR
OR
The interval notation for this solution is .
Note that if the inequality in Example 4.4.3 (b) was , then we would have used Property 3
and our solution in interval form would have been an opened interval.

Now suppose we want to use the definition of the absolute value to solve an absolute inequality, then
we use the following approach.

Consider the absolute inequality . Recall that by definition,

 f ( x) if f ( x)  0
f ( x) = 
− f ( x ) if f ( x)  0

Hence, using the definition, ⟺ if OR if , which

in words mean that to get the solution of the inequality we have to take the union of the -values for
which

1) and and 2) and .

Example 4.4.3(c): Using the definition of the absolute value, solve .

Solution: means if
if
(Since we are taking the intersection of and )

OR

if
∴
if
∴ (Since we are taking the intersection of and )

Thus the solution, in this case, is or in interval notation .

Exercises 4.4.3: Solve each of the following absolute value inequalities if possible.

1) 2) 3)

4) 5) 6)
Example 4.4.4 (a): Solve the inequality, x + 1  x + 4 (Method 1: Algebraically)

Step 1: Divide x + 4 on the RHS and LHS of the inequality

x +1 x+4

x+4 x+4

Step 2: Simplify
x +1
1
x+4

Step 3: Use the definition of the absolute value inequality

x +1
−1  1
x+4

Step 4: Split the inequality

x +1 x +1
−1  and  1
x+4 x+4

Step 5: Equality to a 0
x +1 x +1
−1 − 0 − 1  0
x+4 x+4

Step 6: Write i.t.o one single term and simplify fully

− ( x + 4) − ( x + 1 ) x + 1 − ( x + 4)
0  0
x+4 x+4

−x−4 − x − 1 x +1− x − 4
0  0
x+4 x+4

− 2x − 5
0
x+4
−3
 0
x+4

Step 7: Find the factors and solve for x

-2x – 5 = 0 or x + 4 ≠0 or x +
4 ≠0
x = -5/2 or x ≠ -4 or x ≠ -4

Step 8: Setup the sign table respectively to solve the inequality separately

(-∞, -4) U [-5/2, ∞) (-4, ∞)

Step 9: Conclusion is to find the intersection between the intervals:

Example 4.4.4 (b): Solve the inequality, x + 1  x + 4 (Alternative Method 1)

Step 1: Divide x + 1 on the RHS and LHS of the inequality

x +1 x+4

x +1 x +1

x+4
Step 2: Simplify 1
x +1

Step 3: Use the definition of the absolute value inequality

x+4 x+4
1 or  −1
x +1 x +1

Step 4: Equality to a 0
x+4 x+4
− 1 0 or +1 0
x +1 x +1

Step 5: Write i.t.o one single term and simplify fully

x + 4 − ( x + 1) x + 4 + ( x + 1)
0 or 0
x +1 x +1

x + 4 − x −1 x +1 + x + 4
0 or  0
x +1 x +1

3 2x + 5
0 or  0
x +1 x +1

Step 6: Find the factors and solve for x

x + 1 ≠0 2x + 5 = 0 or x + 1 ≠0
x ≠ -1 x = -5/2 x ≠ -1

Step 7: Setup the sign table respectively and solve the inequality separately

( -1, ∞) [-5/2, -1)

Step 8: Conclusion
[-5/2, -1) U ( -1, ∞)
Example 4.4.4 (c): Solve the inequality, x + 1  x + 4 (Method 2: Cases)

Step 1: Write the conditions of both absolute values

( x + 1) if x +1  0 ( x + 4) if x+4  0
  x  −4
 x  −1 
 
x +1 =  x+4 =
− ( x + 1) if x +1  0 − ( x + 4) if x+4  0
 

 x  −1 
 x  −4

Case 1: Case 2:

(i) Region: x + 1 ≥ 0 and x + 4 ≥ 0 (i) Region: x + 1 < 0 and x + 4 < 0

x ≥ -1 x ≥ -4 x < -1 x < -4
x ≥ -1 x < -4

( x + 1)  ( x + 4) − ( x + 1)  − ( x + 4)
 x − x  4 −1  −x + x  − 4 + 1
(ii) (ii)
03  0  −3
 True  False

(iii) Conclusion: Find the intersection (iii) Conclusion: Find the intersection
x ≥ -1 { }
Case 3: Case 4:

(i) Region: x + 1 < 0 and x + 4 ≥ 0 (i) Region: x + 1 ≥ 0 and x + 4 < 0

x < -1 x ≥ -4 x ≥ -1 x < -4
-4 ≤ x < -1 { }

− ( x + 1)  ( x + 4) ( x + 1)  − ( x + 4)
 −x − x  4 +1  x + x  − 4 −1
(ii)  −2 x  5 (ii)  2x  − 5
5 5
x− x−
2 2

(iii) Conclusion: Find the intersection (iii) Conclusion: Find the intersection
5 { }
−  x  −1
2

5
Conclusion: x  −
2
Example 4.4.4 (d):

Solve the following inequality:

and
AND

Since the aforementioned step are polynomial inequalities, from the signtable we obtain
AND

Finding the intersection between the two sets yield

Example 4.4.4 (e):

Solve the following inequality:

We must consider three cases:

; ;
Case I: If , we have

Case II: If , the given inequality becomes

(Always true )
Case III: If , we have

Combining cases I, II, and III, we see that the inequality is satisfied when .
EXAMPLE:

Prove that .

Solution

The looks like it came from . We know that even powers are

always . We start with and see if we can get the desired inequality:

Example: Let Show that

Solution: From the inequality we have