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1.2 Interval Notation and Definitions 2020

This document defines key concepts for describing intervals algebraically, graphically, and using interval notation. It explains how to identify intervals that are increasing or decreasing, as well as local maxima, minima, and end behaviors of functions. The goals are to write intervals using set notation, number lines, and interval notation, and to define increasing/decreasing intervals and local extrema. Examples are provided to illustrate these interval concepts and notations.

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Ashley Elliott
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75 views5 pages

1.2 Interval Notation and Definitions 2020

This document defines key concepts for describing intervals algebraically, graphically, and using interval notation. It explains how to identify intervals that are increasing or decreasing, as well as local maxima, minima, and end behaviors of functions. The goals are to write intervals using set notation, number lines, and interval notation, and to define increasing/decreasing intervals and local extrema. Examples are provided to illustrate these interval concepts and notations.

Uploaded by

Ashley Elliott
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MhF4U1  

  Unit  1  Lesson  2  

Interval Notation and Definitions

Learning Goals:

•   To write intervals using set notation, a number line and interval notation
•   To define increasing/decreasing intervals, local maxima/minima and end behaviours

Solutions to problems can be a set of numbers lying in an interval, rather than a specific number.
This is usually the case with inequalities.

Describing intervals

•   Algebraically using set notation. {𝑥 ∈ 𝑅  |𝑥 > 8}

•   Using a number lin


•   Using interval
notation 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅, (−∞, −1}   ∪ [1, +∞)

Describing Solutions Algebraically

A solution can be described algebraically using various symbols.

Symbol Meaning Word Example Algebraic Solution


< less than x less than 8
> greater than x greater than −2
≥ greater than or equal to x greater than or equal to −20
≤ less than or equal to x less than or equal to 100
≠ not equal to x not equal to 11.7

Example 1
Describe the set of real numbers from −5 to 3 that includes −5, but does not include 3.

  1  
MhF4U1     Unit  1  Lesson  2  

Example 2
Describe the set of real numbers which does not include 1.

Describing Solutions Graphically

An interval can be described graphically using a number line.

Describing Solutions Using Interval Notation


Write “x greater than −2 and x less than or equal to 3” using set notation, a number line and
interval notation.

Possible combinations.

•   If an interval is written x∈[a,b), x∈R, then a would be included in the interval


and b would be excluded from it.
•   If the interval were written x∈(a,b), x∈R, then neither endpoint would be included in the
interval.
•   If the interval were written x∈[a,b], x∈R, then both endpoints would be included in the
interval.

  2  
MhF4U1     Unit  1  Lesson  2  

Example 3: Describe the following using set notation and interval notation.

Example 4
Represent “all real numbers from −3 to 2, inclusive” algebraically, on a number line, and using
interval notation.

Example 5
Represent “all real numbers except −1 and 4.” algebraically, on a number line, and using interval
notation.

Intervals on a Graph:

  3  
MhF4U1     Unit  1  Lesson  2  

Maxima and Minima


Local maximum (maxima) is a point on a graph whose y value is greater than or equal
to the y values of all other points near it. The function changes from increasing to decreasing,
as x increases, at a local maximum.

Local minimum (minima) is a point on a graph whose y value is less than or equal
to the y values of all other points near it. The function changes from decreasing to increasing,
as x increases, at a local minimum.

End Behaviour
End behaviour - what happens to the function for extreme positive and negative values of x.

“as x→−∞, f(x)→∞” “as x approaches −∞, f(x) approaches ∞.”

“as x→∞, f(x)→∞” “as x approaches ∞, f(x) approaches ∞.”

Positive Intervals
A function y=f(x) is positive on an interval if the value of f(x) is greater than 0 (i.e., y>0) for all
values of x in the interval.
Geometrically, the graph of the function resides above the x-axis in the given interval.

Negative Intervals
A function y=f(x) is negative on an interval if the value of f(x) is less than 0 (i.e., y<0) for all
values of x in the interval.
Geometrically, the graph of the function resides below the x-axis in the given interval.

  4  
MhF4U1     Unit  1  Lesson  2  

Increasing Intervals
A function f(x) is increasing on an interval if the value of y=f(x) increases as the value
of x increases.

Decreasing Intervals
A function f(x) is decreasing on an interval if the value of y=f(x) decreases as the value
of x increases.

Example 6
For the function y=f(x), identify the x-intercepts, y-intercepts, positive and negative intervals,
increasing and decreasing intervals, local maxima and local minima, and end behaviour.

  5  

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