Chapter 1 Coordinates, Graphs and Lines

1.1 Real Number System

Inequality Form Interval Form/Notation Real Number Line

1. x>5

2. x≥–2

3. x<1

4. x≤–4

5. 2<x<5

6. –1<x≤3

7. –2≤x≤5

8. x≤–2  x>2

9. x<0  1≤x<5

10. –4≤x≤0  x>3

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1.2 Inequalities
 Solving inequalities – Linear, Quadratic and Rational

(Important Note: Quadratic and rational inequalities must be solved by using interval
table)

Example 1 (Linear Inequality)

Solve the inequality below. Illustrate the solution in interval notation and real number line.
4x – 3 ≤ 2x + 5
4x – 2x ≤ 5 + 3
2x ≤ 8
8
x ≤
2
x ≤ 4 (Inequality form)

Interval notation : (– ∞, 4]
Real number line :

4
Example 2 (Linear Inequality)
Find all the real numbers that satisfying
3 4  2x 3 3
– < – ≤ (Separate the inequality into two parts)
2 4 2 2

3 4  2x 3 4  2x 3 3
– < – – ≤
2 4 2 4 2 2
3 3 4  2x 4  2x 3 3
– + < ≤ +
2 2 4 4 2 2
4  2x 4  2x
0 < ≤3
4 4
0(4) < 4 + 2x 4 + 2x ≤ 3(4)
0 < 4 + 2x 4 + 2x ≤ 12
–4 < 2x 2x ≤ 12 – 4
2x ≤ 8
4 8
 < x x ≤
2 2
–2 < x x ≤ 4 (Combine)

–2<x≤4 (Inequality form)

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Interval form : (– 2, 4] Real number line :

–2
– 4

Note: (i) If the denominator is constant, then it can multiply to left or right hand side.
(ii) Multiplication or Division of negative values need to change the inequality
sign.

Example 3 (Quadratic Inequality)

Find the range of values of x for which 7 – 6x < x2.
7 – 6x < x2 (Either side must be 0)

0 < x2 + 6x – 7 or –x2 – 6x + 7 < 0

x2 + 6x – 7 > 0 or  (–1) : x2 + 6x – 7 > 0

(x + 7)(x – 1) > 0 Candidate’s Mistake

–x2 – 6x + 7 < 0
x2 + 6x – 7 < 0 (forget to change the inequality sign)
Critical value : x + 7 = 0 ; x–1=0
x=–7 ; x=1

Critical line : * * *
–7 1

Table :
Interval Test Value Sign of (x + 7)(x – 1)
(– ∞, – 7) – 10 (–)(–) = (+)
 Since (x + 7)(x – 1) > 0,
so we choose the
(– 7, 1) –4 (+)(–) = (–)
positive sign, (+)
(1, ∞) 5 (+)(+) = (+)

Inequality form : x<–7  x>1
Interval form : (– ∞, – 7)  (1, ∞)
Real number line :

–7 1

Note: One side (left or right) must be zero.

Note: It is better to let x2 in positive sign.

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 Steps in Solving Inequality
(i) Expand / Factorize (if any).
(ii) Move all the terms to left/right side.
(iii) Find the critical values.
(iv) Draw the critical line.
(v) Determine the interval.
(vi) Construct the table.
(vii) Choose the correct sign (+/–).

Note: Always refer to the question. If < 0 or ≤ 0 → (–)

If > 0 or ≥ 0 → (+)

Example 4 (Rational Inequality)

2x  1
Solve  0 . Express your answer using interval notation.
1 x

2x  1
 0 (One side must be 0)
1 x
Critical value : 2x – 1 = 0 ; 1+x=0
2x = 1 ; x = –1
1
x =
2
Critical line : * * *

1
–1 2

Table :
2x  1
Interval Test Value Sign of
1 x
( )
(– ∞, – 1) –5 = (+)
( )
2x  1
( ) Since ≤ 0,
(– 1, 1 ] 1 x
2
0
()
= (–)
 so we choose the
() negative sign (–)
[ 1 , ∞) 5 = (+)
2 ()

Inequality form : –1<x≤ 1 Real number line :

2

–1 1
2
Interval form : (– 1, 1 ]
2

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 Self Question:
Why x = –1 is not included?
Answer : If x = –1 is included,
2x  1 2(1)  1

1 x 1  ( 1)
1
=
0
= undefined
So, x = –1 cannot be included

Note: For fraction inequalities, beware of the denominator (cannot be included).

Note: Never multiply the denominator (not a constant) to left/right hand side.

Example 5 (Rational Inequality)

5x
Solve  2 . Express the solution in terms of the interval notation and real number line.
x2
5x
 2 0
x2 Candidate’s Mistake
5x 2 5x
  0 >2
x2 1 x2
(5  x)(1)  (2)(x  2) 5 – x > 2(x + 2)
 0
(x  2)(1) (Cannot multiply the denominator to the right hand side
5  x  2x  4 unless it is a constant)
 0
x2
1  3x
 0
x2

Critical value : 1 – 3x = 0 ; x+2=0

– 3x = –1 x=–2
1
x =
3

Critical line : * * *

–2 1
3

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Table :
1  3x
Interval Test Value Sign of
x2
()
(– ∞, – 2) –5 = (–)
( )

1 ()
(– 2,
3
) 0
()
= (+)

1 ( )
( , ∞) 5 = (–)
3 ()

1
Inequality form : –2<x< Real number line :
3

1 –2 1
Interval form : (– 2, ) 3
3

Note: Never multiply the denominator, x + 2 (not a constant) to the right hand side.

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Tutorial 1
1. Find all the real numbers that satisfying 5x + 2 > 3x + 3. Illustrate your answer in
interval notation and real number line.

2. Solve the inequality 2 – 14x – 6x2 ≤ 6x(x – 2).

3. Solve the inequality below. Express your answer using interval notation.
x3
 3 (6 marks, Mar 04)
2x  1

4. Solve the inequality below. Express your answer using interval notation.
2x  1
 0 (3 marks, Oct 04)
x 1

5. Solve the inequality below. Express the solution set in interval notation.
2x
 3, x ≠ 3 (6 marks, Mar 05)
x3

6. Solve the inequality below. Express your answer using interval notations.
x3 1
≥ 4, x ≠ (6 marks, Apr 06)
2x  1 2

7. Solve the inequality below. Illustrate the solution on a real number line.
4  2x
–3< –3≤3 (5 marks, Apr 07)
2

8. Solve the inequality below. Illustrate the solution on a real number line.
x4
≥2 (5 marks, Oct 07)
x2

9. Solve the inequality below and express your answer in interval notation.
x3
1≤ (5 marks, Oct 08)
2x  1

10. Find the values of x that satisfy the following inequality. Give your answer in interval
notation.
x
≤ 2x + 4 < x + 3 (3 marks, Apr 09)
2

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11. Solve the following inequality. Express your solution in interval notation and illustrate
the solution on a real number line.
2
5 – x ≤ 2(3 – x) + (5 marks, Oct 09)
x

12. Solve the inequality below. Illustrate the solution on a real number line.

x 9  x 3
2
(5 marks, Oct 10)
x6

13. Solve the inequality below. Express your solution in interval notation.
x3 1
 (5 marks, Apr 11)
2x  1 4

14. Solve the inequality below. Give your answer in interval form. (Mar 13)
4
(a) ≥2 (5 marks)
1  5x
(b) – 4 ≤ 8x – 2 < 6 (3 marks)

2x  5
15. Solve the following inequality: 1> ≥–6 (4 marks, Sep 13)
3

16. Solve (3x + 2)2 < 144x2 – 288x + 144. (6 marks, Sep 13)

17. Express the following inequality in interval notation and on the real number line.
4 3
 >x≥  (2 marks, Mar 14)
3 2

18. Solve the inequality below. Illustrate the solution on the real number line.
3x 5
 (6 marks, Mar 14)
x5 2

19. Solve the following inequalities:

3
(a) 2≥ (5 marks, Sep 14)
x 1
(b) – x2 + 5x – 6 < 0 (5 marks, Sep 14)

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Answer (Tutorial 1)
1
1. ( , ∞) ;
2 1
2

 1  1  1 6
2.   ,     ,   3. ( , ]
 2 3  2 5
1
4. (– 1, ] 5. (3, 9]
2
1
6. ( , 1] 7.
2 –2 4

1
8. 9. ( , 4]
2 8 2
 8 
10.  3 ,  1
 

11. (–∞, –1]  (0, 2] ;

–1 0 2

1 11
12. 13. (– ∞, )  [ , ∞)
2 2
–6 –3

 1 3  1 
14. (a)  ,  (b)  4 , 1
 5 5  
13 2 14
15. –4<x≤ 16. (– ∞, )  ( , ∞)
2 3 9
 3 4
17.  2 ,  3  ;
  3 4
 
2 3

18.
–5 25

1 
19. (a) (– ∞, – 1)   ,   (b) (– ∞ , 2)  (3, ∞)
 2 

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