QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

2.0 EQUATIONS, INEQUALITIES & ABSOLUTE VALUES

Mind map

Learning outcomes
(At the end of this topic, students should be able to)

EQUATIONS, INEQUALITIES AND

2.1 Equations
(2 hours)

(a) Solve equations involving surds, indices and logarithms.

ABSOLUTE VALUES

2.2 Inequalities
(2 hours)

(a) Relate the properties of inequalities.

(b) Solve linear inequalities.
(c) Solve quadratic inequalities and solve them using either
graphical or algebraic methods.
(d) Solve rational inequalities involving linear expressions

Subtopic

(a) Use the properties of absolute values.

(b) Solve absolute equations of the forms
(i) ax b c

EQUATIONS

INEQUALITIES

ABSOLUTE VALUES

(ii) ax b cx d
(iii) ax b cx d
2.3 Absolute Values
(2 hours)

(iv) ax 2 bx c d
(c) Solve absolute inequalities of the forms
(i) ax b cx d
(ii) ax b cx d
(iii)

ax b
e
cx d

(iv) ax 2 bx c d

QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

2.1 EQUATIONS

1. In order to solve indices, surds and logarithms equation, weve already

learnt in chapter 1.3.

Example 2
Solve the following equations.
(a) 5x 125
(c) 3

A) SOLVING INDICES EQUATIONS

2. Important:
(i) The equation can have equal base or indices so that we can equate
the indices or base of both sides.
(ii) If the equation cant have equal base, we take log10 for both sides.
Example 1
Solve
1

(a) 2x 16
(a) 2x 16
2x

(b) x 2 3

write in same base as left hand side

Equate the indices by comparing both sides

(b)

x2 3
1

( x 2 )2
x

Squaring both sides

x1

27

2
3
x

(b)
4
2 x
(d) 3 27x 0

QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

Example 3
Solve the following equations.
1

(a) 49 x

3 x2

(b) 27x 1 9x 1

3. For index equations have more than 2 terms, use method:

(i) Substitution
4. Example how to solve index equation
Example 4

Solve the equation 9x 4(3x ) 3 0 .

(3x )2 4(3x ) 3 0
Subs:
y 3x
0

Subs in term of y

factorize
Solve for y

3x

or

3x
x

3x

Subs again to find x

3x
or

Solve for x

QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

Example 5
Solve the following equations.
(a) 52 x 1 6(5x ) 1

Example 6
Solve the following equations.
(b) 4x 1 5(2x ) 1 0

(a) e2 x 3e x 2 0

(b) 32x 10 3x 9 0

QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

B) SOLVING SURDS EQUATIONS

Example 8
Solve each of the following equations.

5. To solve surd equation we have to eliminate the surds sign by

squaring both sides.

(a)

2x 1 5 0

(b)

3x 1 1 x

6. If there is 1 surds sign then we do once squaring both sides.

If there are2 surds signs then we do twice squaring both sides.
7. We know ,

a . For example

x2

x2

8. It is useful to use (a b)2 a2 2ab b2 . (refer chapter 1)

9. If there are 2 surds, it easy if we let 1 surd at each sides.
10. REMEMBER:Check whether both values satisfy the original equation.
Example 7
Solve 2x 4 3

2x 4 3
2x 4

Square both sides to eliminate

surd

QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

Example 9

Example 10
Solve x 13 7 x 2

Solve x 1 x 4 5
x 1 x 4 5
x 1 5 x 4

Let 1 surd at each sides.

QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

C) SOLVING LOGARITHMIC EQUATIONS

11. We will use the properties of log, but the most used are:
(i) Change the base of log
(ii) Express log in index forms

Example 12
Solve the equations
(a) 3ln2x 4 2ln2x
(b) ln x ln3 0

12. There are 2 methods in solving log equations.

(i) Substitution
(ii) Equate the log with same base
13. REMEMBER:Check whether both values satisfy the original equation.
Example 11
Solve the equation log2 x log2 ( x 7) 3

QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

Example 13
Solve the equation log3 x 4logx 3 3 0 .

EXERCISE 2.1
1. Find the value of x .
a) 2x 6(2 x ) 5 ans: 2.58
b) log4 x logx 4 2.5 ans: 2 or 16
c) log2 ( x 1) log2 ( x 1) 3 ans: 3

QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

16. Note that when an inequality is multiplied or divided by a negative

value, the inequality sign is reversed.

2.2INEQUALITIES
(A) PROPERTIES OF INEQUALITIES
14. Meaning of inequalities sign.
English Phrase

Mathematical Inequality

a is less than b

ab

a is greater than b

ab

a exceeds b

Example 14
Solve the following inequalities.
(a) n 6
(c) 2x 6
(e)
(g)

a is less than or equal to b

x 1

3 2
7 4x 3

(b) 2m 1
(d) 2x 1 x 5
(f)
(h)

x 1
0
5 2
3(m 1) 1 m

ab

a is at most b
a is not more than b
a is greater or equal to b

ab

a is at least b
a is not less than b

15. Properties of inequalities

Given x y and a 0, b 0 (exp: a 5, b 3 )
(i) Addition

Given x y then , x 5 y 5

(ii) Subtraction

Given x y then x (3) y (3)

(iii) Multiplication

Given x y then 5x 5y
3x 3y

(iv) Division

Given x y then

x y

5 5

x
y

3 3
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QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

(B) LINEAR INEQUALITIES

17. Linear inequalities consist x to the power of 1.
18. Real number lines are used to find the solution of the inequality.
19. Answer can be expressed in
(i)

Set notation: { x : x 8}

(ii)

Interval notation: [8, )

Example 15
Solve the following inequalities.
(a) 7 2 3x 8
(c) 2

10

x 4
9
2

(b) 6 k 2

and

3(k 2) 5k

2
x 2
5

and

3 4 x 15

(d)

QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

25. For a 0 , the graph is maximum.

(C) SOLVING QUADRATIC INEQUALITIES

y ax 2 bx c

20. A quadratic inequality is an inequality of the form ax 2 bx c 0

where a, b and c are real number with a 0 . The inequality symbols
, and may also be used.

0 @ 0

21. This type of inequality can be solved by the

(i) Graphical method.
(ii) Real number line.
(iii) Table of signs

( p, q ) @ [ p, q ]

(, p) (q, )
0 @ 0

@
(, p] [q, )

22. GRAPHICAL METHOD

Suitable for Quadratic equations
23. The graph of quadratic expression is sketched and points where the
graph cuts the x-axis, say p and q are noted

Example 16
Solve the following inequalities by using graphical method.
(i) x 2 6x 5 0
(ii) 6 7x 3x 2 0
(iii) 3x( x 5) 2(2x 3)

24. For a 0 , the graph is minimum.

(, p) (q, )

y ax bx c
2

0 @ 0

(, p] [q, )

0 @ 0

( p, q ) @ [ p, q ]

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QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

26. REAL NUMBER LINE

Suitable for
quadratic equations
Cubic equations
Rational equation
27. STEPS: (i) Find the factors& let all the factors be positive.
(ii) Solve the linear inequalities
(iii) Draw real number line and put the or signs.
(iv) If questions or equations want
Less than zero, 0 , then pick the sign.
Greater than zero, 0 , then pick the sign.

Example 17
Solve x 2 6x 5 0 using real number line.

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QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

28. TABLE OF SIGNS

Suitable for quadratic equations
Cubic equations
Rational equation

Example 19
Solve 4 3x x 2 0 using graphical method, real number line and table
of signs.

29. STEPS: (i) Find the factors & equal to zero to find value of x .
(ii) Draw the table with intervals & put the or signs.
(iii) If questions or equations want
Less than zero, 0 , then pick the sign.
Greater than zero, 0 , then pick the sign.
Example 18
Solve x 2 6x 5 0 using table of signs.

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QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

(D) SOLVING RATIONAL INEQUALITIES

30. Ratio inequalities are inequalities that can be expressed in the form :
P( x )
P( x )
P( x )
0,
0,
0
Q( x )
Q( x )
Q( x )

and

P( x )
0 Qx 0 ,
Q( x )

whereP(x) and Q(x ) are linear.

Example:

3x 1
2 ,
x 5

x 6
2
1
.
0 and

x 3
2x 3 x 1

31. IMPORTANT: DONT CROSS MULTIPLY

x 6
1
x 3

x 6 x 3

32. To solve inequalities with rational expressions;

(i) get 0, zero on the right-hand side
(ii) add or minus the fractions
(iii) and simplify

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Example 20
Solve the inequality and write answer in solution set.
6
x 1
(a)
(b)
1
0
x
x 3

QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

Example 21
Solve
(a)

3x 1
1
5x

(b)

3
2

x 1 x

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QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

2.3 ABSOLUTE VALUES

33. The absolute value of any real number a, denoted as a , is the
distance on a number line between 0 and the point with coordinate a.
4= 4

Example 22
Write each expression without using absolute value symbols. Simplify the
result when possible.
a) 0

4 = 4

b) 6

34. In general,

c) 2 2

x , x0
x
x , x 0

d) 3

35. Properties of absolute values

(i)

a 0 ,

(ii)

a a

(iii)

ab ba

(iv)

ab a b

(v)

a
a

b
b

36. IMPORTANT:
example:

a 0 if and only if a 0 .

, b0

x2 x
32 3 3
( 3)2 3 3

16

e) 3
f) 12 + 4

QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

37. Equation and inequalities involving absolute value

If a 0 ,

Example 23
Solve the following.
(a) x 9

(i)

x a x a or x a

(ii)

x a

(iii)

x a x -a or x a

-a x a

(b) x 5 3

(c)

(d)

2x 10 0

x 2 3x 2 2

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QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

Example 24
Solve the following.

Example 25
Solve each inequality

(a) x 2 10 3x

(a) 3 x 4 2

(b) 3x 1 x 5

(b) 2x 1 5

1
5
x

2
(c)

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QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

(c)

2 3x 5

Example 26
Solve the following.
(a)

(d)

3x
6
5

8x 3 0

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QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

(b)

20

1
2
3x

2x
5
(c) x 3

QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

(d)

2x 3 x 1
(e)

x 2 5x 3 3

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QS015 Chapter 2: Equations, Inequalities & Absolute Values

My target in mathematics QS015 is A

A=x+y+z
If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z.
Work is x; play is y; and z is keeping your mouth shut
~Albert Einstein~

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