Mathematics SM0015/CM0014

Topic 3 :Equations, Inequalities and Absolute Values – Tutorial 3

TUTORIAL 3: EQUATIONS, INEQUALITIES AND ABSOLUTE VALUE

1. a) 𝑥2 − 𝑥 − 2 = 0 b) 2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 2 = 0
(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 2) = 0 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1 = 0
𝑥 = −1, 𝑥 = 2 (𝑥 + 1)2 = 0
∴ 𝑥 = {−1,2} 𝑥 = −1
∴ 𝑥 = {−1}

c) 4𝑥 2 − 25 = 0 d) 𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 = 0
(2𝑥 − 5)(2𝑥 + 5) = 0 𝑥(𝑥 − 7) = 0
5 5
𝑥 = 2,𝑥 = −2 𝑥 = 0, 𝑥 = 7
5 5
∴ 𝑥 = {− 2 , 2} ∴ 𝑥 = {0,7}

2
e) 2 − 3𝑥 − 2𝑥 2 = 0 f) − 3 = 2𝑥
𝑥

(2 + 𝑥)(1 − 2𝑥) = 0 2 − 3𝑥 = 2𝑥 2
1
𝑥 = −2, 𝑥 = 2 2 − 3𝑥 − 2𝑥 2 = 0
1
∴ 𝑥 = {−2, 2} (2 + 𝑥)(1 − 2𝑥) = 0
1
𝑥 = −2, 𝑥 = 2
1
∴ 𝑥 = {−2, }
2
2
2. a) 𝑥 + 4𝑥 − 1 = 0
𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 = 1
(𝑥 + 2)2 − 4 = 1
(𝑥 + 2)2 = 5
𝑥 + 2 = ±√5
𝑥 = 2 ± √5 ∴ 𝑥 = {2 + √5, 2 − √5}

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 Mathematics SM0015/CM0014

Topic 3 :Equations, Inequalities and Absolute Values – Tutorial 3

b) 2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 3 = 0
2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 = −3
5 3
𝑥2 + 2 𝑥 = − 2
5 2 25 3
(𝑥 + 4) − (16) = (− 2)

5 2 25 3
(𝑥 + 4) = 16 − 2

5 2 1
(𝑥 + 4) = 16
5 1
𝑥 + 4 = ±4
5 1
𝑥 = −4 ± 4
3 3
𝑥 = − 2 , 𝑥 = −1 ∴ 𝑥 = {− 2 , −1}

c) 3𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 = 0
4
𝑥2 − 3 𝑥 = 0
2 2 4
(𝑥 − 3) = 0 + 9
2 2
𝑥 − 3 = ±3
2 2
𝑥 =3±3
4 4
𝑥 = 0, 𝑥 = 3 ∴ 𝑥 = {0, 3}

d) 4 − 9𝑥 2 = 0
9𝑥 2 − 4 = 0
4
𝑥2 − 9 = 0
4
𝑥2 = 9
2 2 2
𝑥 = ±3 ∴ 𝑥 = {− 3 , 3}

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 Mathematics SM0015/CM0014

Topic 3 :Equations, Inequalities and Absolute Values – Tutorial 3

3. a) 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9 = 0
𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = −6𝑐 = 9
6±√36−4(1)(9)
𝑥= 2(1)

6±√0
𝑥= 2

𝑥=3 ∴ 𝑥 = {3}

b) 2𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 3 = 0
𝑎 = 2, 𝑏 = −5, 𝑐 = 3
5±√25−4(2)(3)
𝑥= 2(2)

5±√1
𝑥= 4
5+1 5−1
𝑥= ,𝑥 =
4 4
3 3
𝑥 = 2 , 𝑥 = 1 ∴ 𝑥 = {1, 2}

c) 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 = −5
𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 5 = 0
𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = −4, 𝑐 = 5
4±√16−4(1)(5)
𝑥=
2(1)

4±√−4
𝑥= 2
4±2𝑖
𝑥= 2

𝑥 = 2 + 𝑖, 𝑥 = 2 − 𝑖 ∴ 𝑥 = {2 − 𝑖, 2 + 𝑖}

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Topic 3 :Equations, Inequalities and Absolute Values – Tutorial 3

d) 4𝑥 2 + 1 = 12𝑥
4𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 1 = 0
𝑎 = 4, 𝑏 = −12, 𝑐 = 1
12±√144−4(4)(1)
𝑥= 2(4)

12±√128
𝑥= 8
12+√128 12−√128
𝑥= ,𝑥 =
8 8

𝑥 = 2.914, 𝑥 = 0.0858 ∴ 𝑥 = {0.0858,2.914}

4. a) 25𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 1 = 0
𝑎 = 25, 𝑏 = −10, 𝑐 = 1
𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = (−10)2 − 4(25)(1)
= 100 − 100
=0
∴ Equation has two equal real roots

b) 4𝑥 2 = 7𝑥 − 5
4𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 5 = 0
𝑎 = 4, 𝑏 = −7, 𝑐 = 5
𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = (−7)2 − 4(4)(5)
= 49 − 80
= −31 < 0
∴ Equation has two complex roots

c) 2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 4 = 0
𝑎 = 2, 𝑏 = −3, 𝑐 = −4
𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = (−3)2 − 4(2)(−4)
= 9 + 32
= 41 > 0 ∴Equation has two distinct real roots

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Topic 3 :Equations, Inequalities and Absolute Values – Tutorial 3

5. 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 4 = 0
𝛼 + 𝛽 = −2, 𝛼𝛽 = −4
a) Sum of roots = 2𝛼 + 2𝛽
= 2(𝛼 + 𝛽)
= 2(−2) = −4
Product of roots = 2𝛼 • 2𝛽
= 4𝛼𝛽
= 4(−4) = −16
Quadratic equation
𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 16 = 0

𝛼 𝛽
b) Sum of roots =𝛽+𝛼
𝛼2 +𝛽 2
= 𝛼𝛽

(𝛼+𝛽)2 −2𝛼𝛽
= 𝛼𝛽

(−2)2 −2(−4)
= = −3
−4
𝛼 𝛽
Product of roots =𝛽•𝛼=1

Quadratic equation
𝑥 2 + 3x + 1 = 0

c) Sum of roots = (𝛼 + 1) + (𝛽 + 1)
= (𝛼 + 𝛽) + 2
= −2 + 2 = 0
Product of roots = (𝛼 + 1) • (𝛽 + 1)
= 𝛼𝛽 + 𝛼 + 𝛽 + 1
= −2 + (−4) + 1 =−5
Quadratic equation 𝑥2 − 5 = 0

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Topic 3 :Equations, Inequalities and Absolute Values – Tutorial 3

1 1
d) Sum of roots = (𝛼 + 𝛽) + (𝛽 + 𝛼)
𝛼+𝛽
= 𝛼 + 𝛽 + ( 𝛼𝛽 )
−2 3
= −2 + (−4) = − 2
1 1
Product of roots = (𝛼 + 𝛽) • (𝛽 + 𝛼)
1
= 𝛼𝛽 + 1 + 1 + (𝛼𝛽)
1 9
= −4 + 1 + 1 + (−4) = − 4

Quadratic equation
3 9
𝑥2 − 2 𝑥 − 4 = 0

4𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 − 9 = 0

6. a) (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 2) > 0
i) 𝑥 + 1 > 0𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑥 − 2 > 0
𝑥 > −1𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑥 > 2

-1 2
𝑥>2
Or ii) 𝑥 + 1 < 0𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑥 − 2 < 0
𝑥 < −1𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑥 < 2

-1 2
𝑥 < −1
∴ {𝑥: 𝑥 < −1 ∪ 𝑥 > 2}

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Topic 3 :Equations, Inequalities and Absolute Values – Tutorial 3

b) (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 4) ≤ 0
i) 𝑥 + 1 ≤ 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 x−4 ≥0
𝑥 ≤ −1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥≥4

-1 4
𝑛𝑜 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
Or ii) 𝑥 + 1 ≥ 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 − 4 ≤ 0
𝑥 ≥ −1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥≤4

-1 4
−1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 4
∴ {𝑥: −1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 4}

c) 2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 2 < 0 ⇒ (2𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 2) < 0

i) 2𝑥 + 1 < 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑x-2>0
1
𝑥 < − 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑x>2

No solution
2
Or
ii) 2𝑥 + 1 > 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 − 2 < 0
1
𝑥 > −2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 < 2

1
−2 < 𝑥 < 2

2
1
∴ {𝑥: − < 𝑥 < 2}
2

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Topic 3 :Equations, Inequalities and Absolute Values – Tutorial 3

d) (𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 5) ≥ 0
i) 𝑥 + 3 ≥ 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥−5≥0
𝑥 ≥ −3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥≥5

𝑥≥5
-3 5

Or
ii) 𝑥 + 3 ≤ 0𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑥 − 5 ≤ 0
𝑥 ≤ −3𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑥 ≤ 5

𝑥 ≤ −3
-3 5

∴ {𝑥: 𝑥 ≤ −3 ∪ 𝑥 ≥ 5}

7. a) 5𝑥 2 > 3𝑥 + 2
5𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 2 > 0
(5𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 1) > 0

2 2
(−∞, − ) (− , 1) (1, ∞)
5 5
5𝑥 + 2 (−) (+) (+)
𝑥−1 (−) (−) (+)
(5𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 1) (+) (−) (+)

2
Solution is (−∞, − 5) ∪ (1, ∞)

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Topic 3 :Equations, Inequalities and Absolute Values – Tutorial 3

b) (𝑥 − 1)2 > 9
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1 − 9 > 0
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 8 > 0
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 4) > 0

(−∞, −2) (−2,4) (4, ∞)

𝑥+2 (−) (+) (+)

𝑥−4 (−) (−) (+)
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 4) (+) (−) (+)

Solution is (−∞, −2) ∪ (4, ∞)

c) 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 ≥ −3
𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 3 ≥ 0
(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 3) ≥ 0
𝑥−1≥0𝑥−3≥0
𝑥≥1 𝑥≥3

- - +
- + +
+ - +

1 3

𝑥 ≤ 1 𝑜𝑟 𝑥≥3

Solution is (−∞, −1] ∪ [3, ∞)

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Topic 3 :Equations, Inequalities and Absolute Values – Tutorial 3

d) (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 2) ≤ 0
𝑥−1≥0𝑥−2≥0
𝑥≥1 𝑥≥2

- - +
- + +
+ - +

1 2

1≤𝑥≤2
Solution is [1,2]
e) 4𝑥 2 < 1
4𝑥 2 − 1 < 0
(2𝑥 − 1)(2𝑥 + 1) < 0
2𝑥 − 1 > 02𝑥 + 1 > 0
1 1
𝑥 > 2𝑥 > −2

- - +
- + +
+ - +

1 1
− <𝑥<
2 2
1 1
Solution is (− 2 , 2)

f) (1 − 𝑥)(4 − 𝑥) > 𝑥 + 11
4 − 𝑥 − 4𝑥 + 𝑥 2 > 𝑥 + 11
𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 − 7 > 0 ⇒ (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 7) > 0

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Topic 3 :Equations, Inequalities and Absolute Values – Tutorial 3

(−∞, −1) (−1,7) (7, ∞)

(𝑥 + 1) (−) (+) (+)

(𝑥 − 7) (−) (−) (+)
(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 7) (+) (−) (+)

Solution is (−∞, −1) ∪ (7, ∞)

𝑥+1
8. a) |𝑥−3| = 2
𝑥+1 𝑥+1
= 2 𝑜𝑟 𝑥−3 = −2
𝑥−3

𝑥 + 1 = 2(𝑥 − 3) 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 + 1 = −2(𝑥 − 3)
𝑥 + 1 = 2𝑥 − 6 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 + 1 = −2𝑥 + 6
7=𝑥 or 3𝑥 = 5
5
𝑥=3
5
∴ 𝑥 = {3 , 7}
12𝑥+1 3
b) | |=4
2
12𝑥+1 3 12𝑥+1 3
= 4 𝑜𝑟 = −4
2 2
3 3
12𝑥 + 1 =
2
𝑜𝑟 12𝑥 + 1 = − 2
1 5
12𝑥 = 𝑜𝑟 12𝑥 = −
2 2
1 5
𝑥 = 24 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = − 24
−5 1
∴𝑥={ , }
24 24

c) |2𝑥 − 5| = 3
2𝑥 − 5 = 3 𝑜𝑟 2𝑥 − 5 = −3
2𝑥 = 8 𝑜𝑟 2𝑥 = 2
𝑥=4 𝑜𝑟 𝑥=1
∴ 𝑥 = {1,4}

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Topic 3 :Equations, Inequalities and Absolute Values – Tutorial 3

d) |𝑥 2 − 7| = 2
𝑥2 − 7 = 2 𝑜𝑟𝑥 2 − 7 = −2
𝑥2 = 9 𝑜𝑟 𝑥2 = 5
𝑥 = ±3 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = ±√5
∴ 𝑥 = {−3, −√5, √5, 3}
4
e) |𝑥+2| = 8
4 4
= 8 𝑜𝑟 𝑥+2 = −8
𝑥+2

4 = 8(𝑥 + 2) 𝑜𝑟 4 = −8(𝑥 + 2)
4 = 8𝑥 + 16 𝑜𝑟 4 = −8𝑥 − 16
8𝑥 = −12 𝑜𝑟 20 = −8𝑥
12 3 20 5
𝑥=− = − 𝑜𝑟𝑥 = − =−
8 2 8 2
5 3
∴ 𝑥 = {− 2 , − 2}

9. a) |4 − 3𝑥| = 5𝑥 + 4
(4 − 3𝑥)2 = (5𝑥 + 4)2
16 − 24𝑥 + 9𝑥 2 = 25𝑥 2 + 40𝑥 + 16
0 = 16𝑥 2 + 64𝑥
0 = 16𝑥(𝑥 + 4)
𝑥 = 0, 𝑥 = −4
∴ 𝑥 = {−4,0}

b) |𝑥 − 2| = 10 − 3𝑥
(𝑥 − 2)2 = (10 − 3𝑥)2
𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 4 = 100 − 60𝑥 + 9𝑥 2
8𝑥 2 − 56𝑥 + 96 = 0
𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 12 = 0
(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 4) = 0

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 Mathematics SM0015/CM0014

Topic 3 :Equations, Inequalities and Absolute Values – Tutorial 3

𝑥 = 3, 𝑥 = 4
∴ 𝑥 = {3,4}
c) |𝑥| + 2𝑥 = 3
|𝑥| = 3 − 2𝑥
(𝑥)2 = (3 − 2𝑥)2
𝑥 2 = 9 − 12𝑥 + 4𝑥 2
3𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 9 = 0
𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 3 = 0
(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 3) = 0
𝑥 = 1, 𝑥 = 3
∴ 𝑥 = {1,3}
10. a) |3𝑥 − 4| ≥ 2𝑥 + 1

3𝑥 − 4 ≥ 2𝑥 + 1 𝑜𝑟 3𝑥 − 4 ≤ −(2𝑥 + 1)

𝑥 ≥ 5 𝑜𝑟 5𝑥 ≤ 3

3
𝑥≤5

3
Solution set is ∴ 𝑥 = {𝑥 ≤ 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 ≥ 5}
5

b) 2|𝑥| > 3𝑥 − 10

3𝑥−10 3𝑥−10
𝑥> 2
𝑜𝑟 𝑥 < −( 2
)

2𝑥 > 3𝑥 − 10 𝑜𝑟 2𝑥 < −3𝑥 + 10

10 > 𝑥 5𝑥 < 10

𝑥<2

Solution set is 𝑥 = {𝑥 < 10} 10

2

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Topic 3 :Equations, Inequalities and Absolute Values – Tutorial 3

c) |2𝑥 + 1| ≤ 3𝑥 + 2

−(3𝑥 + 2) ≤ 2𝑥 + 1 ≤ 3𝑥 + 2

2𝑥 + 1 ≥ −3𝑥 − 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2𝑥 + 1 ≤ 3𝑥 + 2

5𝑥 ≥ −3 − 1 ≤ 𝑥

3
𝑥 ≥ −5

-1

3
Solution set is 𝑥 = {𝑥 ≥ − 5}

11. a) |𝑥 − 3| > |2𝑥 + 5|

(𝑥 − 3)2 > (2𝑥 + 5)2

𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9 > 4𝑥 2 + 20𝑥 + 25

3𝑥 2 + 26𝑥 + 16 < 0

(3𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 8) < 0

- - +

- + +
+ - +

-8
2
Solution set is 𝑥 = (−8, − )
3

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Topic 3 :Equations, Inequalities and Absolute Values – Tutorial 3

b) |2𝑥 − 5| < |10 − 3𝑥|

(2𝑥 − 5)2 < (10 − 3𝑥)2

4𝑥 2 − 20𝑥 + 25 < 100 − 60𝑥 + 9𝑥 2

0 < 5𝑥 2 − 40𝑥 + 75

𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 15 > 0

(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 5) > 0

- - +

- + +

+ - +

3 5

Solution set is 𝑥 = (−∞, 3) ∪ (5, ∞)

c) |𝑥 − 4| ≤ |2𝑥 − 6|

(𝑥 − 4)2 ≤ (2𝑥 − 6)2

𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 16 ≤ 4𝑥 2 − 24𝑥 + 36

3𝑥 2 − 16𝑥 + 20 ≥ 0

(3𝑥 − 10)(𝑥 − 2) ≥ 0

- - +

- + +
+ - +

10
Solution set is 𝑥 = (−∞, 2) ∪ ( 3 , ∞)

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Topic 3 :Equations, Inequalities and Absolute Values – Tutorial 3

d) |𝑥 + 4| ≥ |3𝑥 + 2|

(𝑥 + 4)2 ≥ (3𝑥 + 2)2

𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 16 ≥ 9𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 4

8𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 12 ≤ 0

2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 3 ≤ 0 ⇒ (2𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 1) ≤ 0

- - +

- + +

+ - +

3
Solution set is 𝑥 = [− , 1]
2

12. 𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 𝑐 > 0

|𝑥 + 𝑎| > 𝑏

𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 > −𝑐

(𝑥 + 4)2 > 16 − 𝑐

|𝑥 + 4| > √16 − 𝑐

From information given,

𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 10 > 3

𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 10 − 3 > 0

𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 7 > 0

∴𝑐=7

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Topic 3 :Equations, Inequalities and Absolute Values – Tutorial 3

From information given,

|𝑥 + 𝑎| > 𝑏

|𝑥 + 4| > √16 − 7

|𝑥 + 4| > √9

|𝑥 + 4| > 3

𝑥+4>3 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 + 4 < −3

𝑥 > −1 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 < −7

Solution set is 𝑥 = {𝑥 < −7 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 > −1}

Or 𝑥 = (−∞, −7) ∪ (−1, ∞)

17