Ly Ba Hoang - 1695172 MTH 1114 Homeworks

Section 2.7: Nonlinear Inequalities

Homeworks in the section 2.7 include: 5, 23, 31, 37, 41, 69, 81, 87.

In Exercises 5 - 8, determine whether each value of x is a solution of the inequality.

Inequality Values
5. x2 −3<0 (a) x = 3 (b) x = 0
(c) x = 32 (d) x = −5
6. x2 − 2 − 4 ≥ 0 (a) x = −2 (b) x = 0
(c) x = −4 (d) x = 1

Solution

5. x2 − 3 < 0

(a) x = 3 ⇒ 32 − 3 = 6 > 0. Thus, x = 3 is not a solution of the inequality.

(b) x = 0 ⇒ 02 − 3 = −3 < 0. Thus, x = 0 is a solution of the inequality.
 2
3 3 3 3
(c) x = ⇒ − 3 = − < 0. Thus, x = is a solution of the inequality.
2 2 4 2
(d) x = −5 ⇒ (−5)2 − 3 = 22 > 0. Thus, x = −5 is not a solution of the inequality

In Exercises 13 - 26, solve the inequality. Then graph the solution set.

23. x2 < 3 − 2x 31. 4x3 − 6x2 < 0

Solution

23. We have

x2 < 3 − 2x ⇔ x2 + 2x − 3 < 0
⇔ (x − 1)(x + 3) < 0

The key numbers are x = 1, and x = −3, and the test intervals are (−∞, −3), (−3, 1), and (1, +∞).

Test Interval x-Value Polynomial value Sign

(−∞, −3) −4 5 Positive
(−3, 1) 0 −3 Negative
(1, +∞) 2 5 Positive

The inequality is satisfied on the open interval (−3, 1). So, the solution set is (−3, 1), as shown on the
number line below.

( ) x
−6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5

28
Ly Ba Hoang - 1695172 MTH 1114 Homeworks

31. We have

4x3 − 6x2 = 2x2 (2x − 3)

3
Thus, the key numbers, which are the zeros of the polynomial, are x = 0 and x = , and the interval
    2
3 3
tests are (−∞, 0), 0, , and , +∞ .
2 2

Test interval x-Value Polynomial value Sign

(−∞, 0) −1 −10 Negative
(0, 23 ) 1 −2 Negative
( 23 , +∞) 2 8 Positive
 
3
Therefore, the solution set of the inequality is (−∞, 0) ∪ 0, , as shown in the line below.
2

)( ) x
−6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5

(Unusual Solution Sets) In Exercises 37 - 40, explain what is unusual about the solution set of the inequal-
ity.
37, 4x2 − 4x + 1 ≤ 0

Solution

37. We have

4x2 − 4x + 1 = (2x)2 − 2(2x)(1) + 12 = (2x − 1)2

Since (2x − 1)2 ≥ 0 for all value of x ∈ R, the only solution for the inequality is
1
4x2 − 4x + 1 = 0 ⇔ (2x − 1)2 = 0 ⇔ x =
2

Thus, the solution set of the inequality is {−1}. The unusual thing is that the solution set consists of only
a single number.

(Solving a Rational Inequality) In Exercises 41 - 52, solve the inequality. Then graph the solution set.
4x − 1
41. >0
x
Solution

4x − 1
41. We have the inequality: >0
x
1
The key numbers (or the real zeros of both the numerator, and the denominator) are x = and x = 0.
4
   
1 1
The test intervals are (−∞, 0), 0, , and , +∞ .
4 4

29
Ly Ba Hoang - 1695172 MTH 1114 Homeworks

Test interval x-Value Polynomial value Sign

(−∞, 0) −1 5 Positive
(0, 14 ) 0.15 − 38 Negative
( 14 , +∞) 1 3 Positive

 
1
Thus, the solution set of the inequality is (−∞, 0) ∪ , +∞ , as shown in the line below.
4

) ( x
−2 −1 0 1 2

69 (Cost, Revenue, and Profit). The revenue and cost equations for a product are R = x(75 − 0.0005x)
and C = 30x + 250, 000, where R and C are measured in dollars and x represents the number of units
sold. How many units must be sold to obtain a profit of at least $750,000? What is the price per unit?

Solution

Because x is the number of units sold, x must be greater than or equal 0. The equation for the profit is

P (x) = R(x) − C(x) = x(75 − 0.0005x) − (30x + 250000)

= −0.0005x2 + 45x − 250000

The number of units must be sold to obtain a profit of at least $750,000 is the solution set of the inequality:

P (x) ≥ 750000 (x ≥ 0)
⇔ − 0.0005x2 + 45x − 250000 ≥ 750000
⇔ − 0.0005x2 + 45x − 1000000 ≥ 0
⇔ 0.0005x2 − 45x + 1000000 ≤ 0
⇔ 0.0005(x − 40000)(x − 50000) ≤ 0 (1)

The key numbers of the inequality (1) are 40000 and 50000. The test intervals are (0, 40000), (40000, 50000),
and (50000, +∞].

Test interval x-Value Polynomial value Sign

(0, 40000) 10000 600000 Positive
(40000, 50000) 45000 −12500 Negative
(50000, +∞) 60000 100000 Positive

Since 40000 and 50000 are also solutions of the inequality (1), the solution set of the inequality (1) is [40000, 50000].
In other words, to generate a profit of at least $750,000, then the number of units sold must be between 40000
and 50000.

81 (Resistors). When two resistors of resistances R1 and R2 are connected in parallel (see figure), the
total resistance R satisfies the equation

1 1 1
= +
R R1 R2

Find R1 for a parallel circuit in which R2 = 2 ohms and R must be at least 1 ohm.

30
Ly Ba Hoang - 1695172 MTH 1114 Homeworks

Solution

With R2 = 2 ohm, we have

1 1 1 1 2 + R1 2R1
= + ⇔ = ⇔ R=
R R1 2 R 2R1 R1 + 2

In order that R must be at least 1 ohm, then we have

2R1
R1 ≥ 1 ⇔ ≥1
R1 + 2
2R1
⇔ −1≥0
R1 + 2
R1 − 2
⇔ ≥0 (1)
R1 + 2

The key numbers of the inequality (1) are all the zeros of both the numerator and denominator, which are 2 and
−2. The test intervals are (−∞, −2), (−2, 2), and (2, +∞).

Test interval x-Value Value Sign

(−∞, −2) −3 1 Positive
(−2, 2) 0 −1 Negative
1
(2, +∞) 3 5 Positive

There are set of solutions of the inequality (1): (−∞, −2) and (2, +∞). However, resistance should not be
negative, and R1 = 2 is also a solution of the inequality (1). Thus, the set of solution of the inequality is
[2, +∞).

In Exercises 87 - 90, (a) find the interval(s) for b such that the equation has at least one real solution and
(b) write a conjecture about the interval(s) based on the values of the coefficients.
87. x2 + bx + 9 = 0

Solution

87. A quadratic equation could have at most 2 real solution, so in order that the equation x2 + bx + 9 = 0
has at least one real solution, we have two cases:

• Case 1: The equation has one real solution. This is equivalent to

∆ = 0 ⇔ b2 − 4ac = 0
⇔ b2 − 4(1)(9) = 0
⇔ b2 − 36 = 0

b=6
⇔
b = −6

31
Ly Ba Hoang - 1695172 MTH 1114 Homeworks

• Case 2: The equation has two real solutions. This is equivalent to

∆ > 0 ⇔ b2 − 36 > 0
⇔ (b − 6)(b + 6) > 0

b < −6
⇔
b>6

Thus, the intervals for b are (−∞, −6] and [6, +∞).

32