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smcgrath12
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venksune
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Dharmin
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Right on. There are 2 cases here:

1) x^2 + 3x + x^2 - 2 >= 0

Equate the above equation to 0 and solve for x. We get x=1/2 and x=-2. Mark those points on a number line. These will be your boundary points. Now, as the above quadratic equation is greater (and equal) to zero, the solution for x will lie outside the boundary points. That give us, x>=1/2 and x<=-2.

2) -(x^2 + 3x) + x^2 -2 >= 0

Solving that, we get x<=-2/3.

Combining the above two, we get x <= -2/3 and x >= 1/2.

My only question is, when we combine the two, shouldn't we consider the more limiting condition of x <= -2 and not x <= -2/3 ???
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Quote:
My only question is, when we combine the two, shouldn't we consider the more limiting condition of x <= -2 and not x <= -2/3 ???


Answer:

More Limiting condition when AND is there between two condition.
(A subset B)
All posible cases when OR condition. ( A union B)

(e.g. consider two sub cases of CASE - 1, we have AND between two condiontion and so we took more limiting)

x>=1/2 AND x>=-2 implied X SHOULD BE >= 1/2

However, we included condition of both the cases CASE - 1 (x>1/2) and CASE - 2(x < -2/3) bcoz we have OR condition there and not AND.

Case - 2 has OR condition so add its favorable results -2<x<-2/3 i.e. (-1)

You can put (-1) in to the problem and check.

cheers,
Dharmin
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PracticeMore
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Here we have just two cases :

Case 1 : x^2 + 3x > 0 and Case 2: x^2 + 3x < 0

Case 1 : x^2 + 3x + x^2 - 2 >= 0

or 2*x^2 + 3x - 2 >=0 or (x+2)(2x-1) >=0

so, either x+2 >=0 , 2x-1 >=0
or x+2 <=0 , 2x-1 <= 0

so either x >=- 2 , x >=1/2
or x <= -2 , x <= 1/2

==> x >= 1/2 or x <= -2 ----- (I)


But, x^2 + 3x > 0 , so x (x+3) >0

so x > 0, x >-3 == > x >0 ---- (II)
or x < 0, x < - 3 ==> x < -3 ---- (III)

So from I , II and III , x > 1/2 or x < -3


Case 2 : : -x^2 - 3x + x^2 - 2 <= 0

or - 3x - 2 >=0 or 3x + 2 <= 0

so, x <= -2/3 ---- (I)

But, x^2 + 3x< 0 , so x (x+3) < 0

so x < 0, x >-3 ---- (II)
or x > 0, x < - 3 ---- (III)

So from I , II and III , -3 < x <= -2/3 or x < -3

so from case 1 :
x > 1/2 or x < -3

and from case 2 :
-3 < x <= -2/3 or x < -3


so the solution should be

x < -3 , -3 < x <=-2/3 , and x > 1/2
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sorry it will be

x = 1/2 (I missed the equality sign from 1st case)



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