Diploma in Management Studies

Business Mathematics BUS003

Lecture 2- Fundamental Algebra (II)

Topics to be discussed:
Rational Exponents and Radicals
Quadratic Equations
Inequalities
Absolute Value
Ref: Tan, Chapter 1
1

Learning Outcomes
After this lecture, students should be able to:
Factor, expand and simplify rational exponents
and radicals
Solve quadratic equations using factoring,
formula and completing the square
Understand the concept of an absolute value of
a real number
Understand the various types of intervals
Solve inequalities involving linear, quadratic,
rational and absolute value expressions
2

Roots of Real Numbers

Expressions of the form an
If n is a natural number and a and b are real
numbers such that an = b,
b then a is the nth
root of b.
For n = 2 and n = 3, the roots are known as
the square roots and cube roots
When n is even, the real nth roots of a positive
number must come in p
pairs: one p
positive and
one negative. The positive root is the
principle root.

Number of roots of a real number b

n is even, b > 0 Two real roots (one principal)

n is even, b < 0 No real roots
n is even, b = 0 One real root
n is odd, b > 0 One real root
n is odd, b < 0 One real root
n is odd, b = 0 One real root
n

We use the notation b , called a radical, to

denote the principal nth root of b. The positive
integer n is called the index of the radical.

Rational Exponents and Radicals

If n is a natural number and b is a real
number then b1/n= n b
number,
(If b < 0 and n is even, b1/n is not defined)
If m/n is a rational number reduced to lowest
terms (m, n natural numbers), then bm/n =
(b1/n)m = n b m
g
exponent
p
a-m/n = 1/am/n ((a0))
Negative
e.g. (-8)5/3 = (-81/3)5 = (-2)5 = - 32
e.g. (-8)-1/3 = 1/(-8)1/3 = 1/-2 = -

Properties of Radicals

1. a

a, a is non-negative

2.n ab a b
n

a
a
3.
n (b 0)
b
b
4.

m n

mn

5.n a n a

a
if n is even

an a

if n is odd
6

Simplifying Radicals
An expression involving radicals is simplified if
the following conditions are satisfied:
1. The powers of all factors under the radical
sign are less than the index of the radical.
2. The index of the radical has been reduced as
far as possible.
3.
3 No
N radical
di l appears iin a d
denominator
i t
4. No fraction appears within a radical.

Examples of Simplifying Radicals

(a ) 8 x 3 y 6 z 9 3 23 ( xyy 2 z 3 ) 3 23 ( xyy 2 z 3 ) 3 2 xyy 2 z 3
3

y2 x y2 x y2
x
x
(b) 3 3 3
3

y
y
y
y2
y3
x
(c ) 2
y

x
y2

x
y2

y
y

xy
y3

xy
y
8

Exercise 2.1(a)
Rationalize the denominator of the
expression

(a )

3
2 x

(b) 3

1
x

(c )

q
q 1
9

Answers to Exercise 2.1(a)

10

Exercise 2.1(b)
Write the expression in simplest radical
form
16
((a )
3
3
2x2

(b )

2y2
(c )
3
3

11

Answers to Exercise 2.1(b)

12

Exercise 2.1(c)
Simplify the expression
1
(a)
a
a

(b)

y
x

x y
x y

(c)( x 1)1/ 2

1
x( x 1) 1/ 2
2
13

Answers to Exercise 2.1(c)

14

Answers to 2.1(c)

15

Quadratic Equations
A quadratic equation in the variable x is any
equation that can be written in the form
ax2 + bx + c = 0
where a, b and c are constants and a0.
We solve a quadratic equation in x by
finding its roots, that is, the values of x that
satisfy the equation.
Three methods: Factoring, completing the
squares and quadratic formula:
b b 2 4ac
x
2a
16

Solving Quadratic Equation

(1)

(2)

By Factoring
2x2 = 6x 4 2x2 - 6x + 4 = 0
2(x2 - 3x + 2) = 0 2(x 2)(x - 1) = 0
x = 2 or x = 1
By quadratic formula
2x2 + 5x 12 = 0
5 52 4(2)(12) 5 121 5 11
x

4
2(2)
4
3
x 4 or
x
2
17

By Completing The Square

(1) Write the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 in the form

x2

b
c
x
a
a

Where the coefficient of x2 is 1 and the constant

term is on the right hand side of the equation.
(2) square half of the coefficient of x
(3) Add the
th number
b obtained
bt i d in
i step
t 2 to
t both
b th sides
id
of the equation, factor, and solve for x.

18

Example of Completing The Square

4x2 3x - 2 = 0
3
4

1
2

3
4

Step 1: First write x 2 x 0 x 2 x

1
2

Step 2: Square half of the coefficient of x,

2
2
obtaining
9
34 3

2
64

Step 3: Add

9
to both sides of the equation:
64
3
9 1 9 41
x2 x

4
64 2 64 64

Factoring, we have

3
41
3
41
3
41 1

x
x
3 41
x
8
64
8
8
8
8
8

19

Exercise 2.2(a)
Solve the equations by factoring
(a) x2 + x 12 = 0

(b) 4t2 + 2t 2 = 0

(c)

1 2
x x+1=0
4
20

10

Answers to Exercise 2.2(a)

21

Exercise 2.2(b)
Solve the equation by competing the
square
(a) x2 + 2x 8 = 0

(b) 6x2 12x = 3

22

11

Answers to Exercise 2.2(b)

23

Exercise 2.2(c)
Solve the equation by using the quadratic
formula
(a) 8x + 3 = 8x2

(b) 2.1x2 4.7x 6.2 = 0

24

12

Answers to Exercise 2.2(c)

25

Exercise 2.2(d): Solve

2
4
4
x3 x

26

13

Intervals
Finite intervals are open, closed, or half-opened.
The set of all real numbers that lie strictly
between two fixed numbers a and b is called an
open interval (a, b). It consists of all real numbers
x that satisfy the inequalities a < x < b. The two
end points a and b are not included
A closed interval [a, b] contains both of its
endpoints. It consists of all real numbers x that
satisfy the inequalities a x b
b.
Half-open intervals contain only one of their
endpoints. For example, (a, b] or [a, b).
Infinite intervals:(a, ),[a, ),(-,a),(-,a]
27

Graphs of Intervals
Open (a, b)

(
a

[a, b]
Closed [a

(a,
( ))
(-, a)

[
a
x

(
a
)
a

]
b

(
a

Half-open [a, b)

]
b

[
a

Half-open (a, b]

)
b

[ ))
[a,
(-, a]

)
b

[
a
]
a

28

14

Inequalities and their properties

In practical applications, intervals are often
found by solving one or more inequalities
involving a variable
variable.
The properties of inequalities are as follows:
Let a, b and c be any real numbers:
(1) If a < b and b < c, then a < c
(2) If a < b, then a + c < b + c
(3) If a < b and c > 0, then ac < bc
(4) If a < b and c < 0, then ac > bc

29

Solving Inequalities
(1) Solve 3x 2 < 7
3x -2 + 2 < 7 + 2 3x < 9 x < 3
The solution is the set of all values of x in the
interval (-, 3).

(2) Solve -1 2x - 5 < 7

4 2x < 12 (add 5 to each member)
2 x < 6 (multiply to each member)
The solution is the set of all values of x lying
in the interval [2, 6).

30

15

Solving Inequalities by Factoring

Solve x2 - 5x + 6 > 0
Step 1: Set the polynomial in the inequality equals 0 x2 - 5x +
6=0
y
((x - 3)) ((x 2)) = 0
Step 2: Factorize the polynomial
Step 3: Construct a sign diagram for the factors of the
polynomial. We use a (+) sign to indicate a positive factor and a
(-) sign to indicate that it is negative.
(x 3)
(x - 2)

0 + +

0 +

+ + +

- -

x
0

Step 4: Determine the intervals that satisfy the given inequality.

For the inequality to be > 0, both factors need to be of the same
sign. Thus the solution set is (-, 2) U (3, )

31

Solving Inequality Involving a Quotient

Solve [(2x-1)/(x 2)] 1
2x 1
2x 1
1 0
1
x2
x2
2 x 1 ( x 2)
2x 1 x 2
x 1

0
0
0
x2
x2
x2
Next we construct the sign diagram for the factors in the
numerator and denominator.
(x + 1)
(x - 2)

0
-1

+
0

+
-

+
0
2

+
+

+
+
x

Since the quotient of these two factors must be positive or equal

to zero, we require the sign of each factor be the same or that the
quotient be zero. The solution set is (-, -1] U (2, )
32

16

Absolute Value and Its Properties

The absolute value of a number a is denoted
a 0
by |a| and is defined by a a
if

a 0

Since a is a positive number when a is

negative, it follows that the absolute value of a
number is always nonnegative.
Let a and b be any real numbers and k > 0
a a
1. a a
2. ab a b
3.
4. a b a b
b b

5. x k k x k

6. x k x k

or

x k
33

Solving Absolute Value Problems

3 2 2 3
320

32 32

2 3 0 2 3 2 3

3 22 3

3 2 2 3 3 2 2 3

3 22 3 42
5 x 7 18
5 x 7 18 5 x 7 18
5 x 25
x 5

or
or

or

5 x 7 18

5 x 11
x

11
5

The solution set is the set of all x in (-, -5] or [11/5,)

34

17

Exercise 2.3(a)
Find the values of x that satisfy the
inequalities
(a) x + 3 > 1 and x 2 < 1

(b) (x + 3) (x 5) 0

(c)

x3
0
x2
35

Answers to Exercise 2.3(a)

36

18

Exercise 2.3(b)
Evaluate the Expression

(a)

12 4
16 12

(b) 3 2 3 3
(c ) 2 1 3 2
37

Answers to Exercise 2.3(b)

38

19