Solution
Given:• An inequality, \(\frac{(x^2 – 7x – 18)(x + 5)}{(x^2 – 4)} ≤ 0\)
To find:• The number of non-negative integer values of x that satisfy the given inequality
Approach and Working: • \(\frac{(x^2 – 7x – 18)(x + 5)}{(x^2 – 4)} ≤ 0\)
Let’s factorise the quadratic expressions in the numerator and denominator
• \(\frac{(x – 9)(x + 2)(x + 5)}{(x + 2)(x - 2)} ≤ 0\)
We can cancel out the common term, x + 2, in both numerator and denominator
• \(\frac{(x – 9)(x + 5)}{(x - 2)} ≤ 0\)
Now, multiplying and dividing by (x – 2), we get,
• \(\frac{(x – 2)(x - 9)(x + 5)}{(x - 2)^2} ≤ 0\)
In the above expression, the denominator is always greater than 0. Thus, the numerator must be ≤ 0.
• (x – 2)(x - 9)(x + 5) ≤ 0
Representing the zero points {-5, 2, 9} on a number line, we can find the regions in which the expression is ≤ 0

• From the above figure, we can see that (x – 2)(x - 9)(x + 5) ≤ 0 in the regions, 2 ≤ x ≤ 9 and x ≤ -5
• And, we know that x ≠ 2, since, the denominator of the given expression cannot be = 0
We are asked to find the number of non-negative integer values of x.
• Therefore, the values of x can be {3, 4, 5 ,6 ,7 ,8, 9}
Hence the correct answer is Option B.
Answer: B