Solving Inequalities - SAT Subject Test in Math II

First, find the zeroes of the numerator and the denominator. This will give the boundary points of the intervals to be tested.

Either

or

Since the numerator may be equal to 0, is included as a solution; , since the denominator may not be equal to 0, and are excluded as solutions.

Now, test each of four intervals for inclusion in the solution set by substituting one test value from each:

Let's test :

This is true, so is included in the solution set.

Let's test :

This is false, so is excluded from the solution set.

Let's test :

This is true, so is included in the solution set.

Let's test :

This is false, so is excluded from the solution set.

The solution set is therefore .

Put the inequality in standard form, then

Find the zeroes of the polynomial. This will give the boundary points of the intervals to be tested.

or .

Since the inequality is exclusive (), these boundary points are not included.

Now, test each of three intervals for inclusion in the solution set by substituting one test value from each:

Let's test :

This is false, so is excluded from the solution set.

Let's test :

This is false, so is excluded from the solution set.

Let's test :

This is true, so is included in the solution set.

The solution set is the interval .

Subtract on both sides.

Simplify both sides.

Divide by negative five on both sides. This requires switching the sign.

The answer is:

First, we distribute the through the equation:

Now, we collect and combine terms:

The first thing we can do is clean up the right side of the equation by distributing the , and combining terms:

Now we can combine further. At some point, we'll have to divide by a negative number, which will change the direction of the inequality.

First, we distribute the and then collect terms:

Now we solve for x, taking care to change the direction of the inequality if we divide by a negative number:

In order to solve this inequality, we need to apply each mathematical operation to all three sides of the equation. Let's start by subtracting from all the sides:

Now we divide each side by . Remember, because the isn't negative, we don't have to flip the sign:

Add 26 on both sides.

Divide by two on both sides.

The answer is:

Distribute the negative through the terms of the binomial.

Subtract on both sides.

Add 18 on both sides.

Divide by 13 on both sides.

The answer is:

The first thing we can do is distribute the and the into their respective terms:

Now we can start to simplify by gathering like terms. Remember, if we multiply or divide by a negative number, we change the direction of the inequality:

It can be tricky because there's a negative sign in the equation, but we never end up multiplying or dividing by a negative, so there's no need to change the direction of the inequality. We simply divide by and multiply by :

Remember, anything we do to one side of the inequality, we must also do to the other two sides. We can start by adding one to all three sides:

And now we divide each side by two:

The first thing we can do is distribute the negative sign in the middle term. Because we're not multiplying or dividing the entire inequality by a negative, we don't have the change the direction of the inequality signs:

Now we can subtract from the inequality:

And finally, we can multiply by . Note, this time we're multiplying the entire inequality by a negative, so we have to change the direction of the inequality signs:

We start by distributing the :

Now we can add , and subtract an from each side of the equation:

We didn't multiply or divide by a negative number, so we don't have to reverse the direction of the inequality sign.

Start by finding the roots of the equation by changing the inequality to an equal sign.

Now, make a number line with the two roots:

Pick a number less than and plug it into the inequality to see if it holds.

For ,

is clearly not true. The solution set cannot be .

Next, pick a number between .

For ,

is true so the solution set must include .

Finally, pick a number greater than .

For ,

is clearly not the so the solution set cannot be .

Thus, the solution set for this inequality is .

Add 6 on both sides.

Divide by five on both sides.

The answer is:

Add six on both sides.

Divide by three on both sides.

The answer is:

Subtract nine from both sides.

Divide by negative 3 on both sides. We will need to switch the sign.

The answer is:

Add seven on both sides.

Divide by three on both sides.

The answer is: