sa800 wrote:
Find the range of values of x that satisfy the inequality \((x + 1)(x – 2) > 4\)
A. x > -2
B. x < -2
C. x > 3
D. x < 3
E. x > 3 or x < -2
i have the exact same question
\((x + 1)(x – 2) > 4\)
\(x^2 - 2x + x - 2 > 4\)
\((x - 3) (x + 2)>0\)
Here is how to solve the above inequality easily. The "roots", in ascending order, are -2, and 3, which gives us 3 ranges:
\(x < -2\);
\(-2 < x < 3\);
\(3 < x\).
Next, test an extreme value for \(x\): if \(x\) is some large enough number, say 10, then all tow multiples will be positive, giving a positive result for the whole expression. So when \(x > 3\), the expression is positive. Now the trick: as in the 3rd range, the expression is positive, then in the 2nd it'll be negative, and finally in the 1st, it'll be positive: \(\text{(+ - +)}\). So, the ranges when the expression is positive are: \(x < -2\) and \(x > 3\).
P.S. You can apply this technique to any inequality of the form \((ax - b)(cx - d)(ex - f)... > 0\) or \( < 0\). If one of the factors is in the form \((b - ax)\) instead of \((ax - b)\), simply rewrite it as \(-(ax - b)\) and adjust the inequality sign accordingly. For example, consider the inequality \((4 - x)(2 + x) > 0\). Rewrite it as \(-(x - 4)(2 + x) > 0\). Multiply by -1 and flip the sign: \((x - 4)(2 + x) < 0\). The "roots", in ascending order, are -2 and 4, giving us three ranges: \(x < -2\), \(-2 < x < 4\), and \(x > 4\). If \(x\) is some large enough number, say 100, both factors will be positive, yielding a positive result for the entire expression. Thus, when \(x > 4\), the expression is positive. Now, apply the alternating sign trick: as the expression is positive in the 3rd range, it will be negative in the 2nd range, and positive in the 1st range: \(\text{(+ - +)}\). Therefore, the ranges where the expression is negative are: \(-2 < x < 4\).
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