CHAPTER 2 : INEQUALITIES AND ABSOLUTE VALUES

2.1 Inequalities

1. Solve the inequality, and express the solution in interval form.

(a)  3 x  2 (c) 4 x  3  5

(b) (d)
2 x  5  3x  7 3  3x  2  7

2. Solve the inequality, and express the answer in solution set.

(a) 9  8 x  1  2 x (c) 2 x  3  7  7 x  3x  7
(b) (d) 3 2p 1
 2  2x  7  3 3 
6 3

3. Solve the quadratic inequality by graphical approach.

(a) x 2  x  3  5 (c) x x  7   12

(b) (d)
2x 2  6x  8  0 12  x 2  10 x  27

4. Solve the following inequalities by using table sign method.

(a) 2 x 2  5 x  3  0 (c) 3 x 2  x  3 x  1

(b) (2  x)( x  4)  0 (d) (2 x  7)  ( x  5)( x  1)

2.2 Absolute Values

5. Define the following absolute values :
(a) x (c) 2 x

(b) x3
(d) 5x  5

6. Solve the following :

(a) 3x  7  8 (c) x  4  3  2x

(b)  3x  7  8 (d) 4  x  2x  3

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 CHAPTER 2 : INEQUALITIES AND ABSOLUTE VALUES

7. Solve the following :

(a) 3x  7  x  2 (c) 4  x  3  2x

(b)  3x  7  x  1 (d) 4  x  2x  3  0

8. Solve the following :

(a) 3x 2  2 x  8  8 (c) x 2  5x  3  3

(b) x 2  4  20 (d) 8  3x  x 2  2

Solve the following inequalities by using definition

x  a  x  a or x  a and x  a  x  a and x  a

9. Solve the inequality and express the solution in terms of intervals whenever possible.
(a) x 3 (c) 2 x  7  4  6x

(b) 2x  1  7
(d) 6  2x  8  x

10. Solve the inequality and give the answer in solution set whenever possible.
x
(a) 2x  5  3  x (c) 5 0
3

(b) 1  x  7  3x
(d) x6  2

11. If 2 x  4  8, find the values of m and n such that  x : x  n  4  x  n  m .

12. Given x  [13,5] , find the value of m and n such that x  n  m.

13. By completing the square, write the following inequalities as inequalities with an
absolute value. Hence, solve the inequalities.
(a) x 2  6x  8  0 (b) 2 x 2  3x  1  0

PAST YEAR QUESTIONS

2010 / 2011
14. Solve the following.
(a) 2 x 2  3  3x  2

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 CHAPTER 2 : INEQUALITIES AND ABSOLUTE VALUES

[5 marks]

(b)  3x  5 x  2 4

[7 marks]
2011 / 2012
15. If 2 x  4  6, find the values of m and n such that m  x  n  3.
[6 marks]

2012 / 2013

16. Determine the solution set which satisfies the following inequalities:

(a) x x  2  3x  2
[5 marks]
(b) 3  2 x  5.

[4 marks]

SUGGESTED ANSWERS
INEQUALITIES AND ABSOLUTE VALUES

1. (a)  x : 5  x  8 (c)  x : x  5

(b)  x : 4  x  1 (d)  x : x  2
 2 5 
2. (a)   , 3  (b) 12,   (c) ( ,2] (d)  3 ,3 
   
 4  10 
3. (a)  x : x   (c)  x : 0  x  
 3  9
 9   1 21
(b)  x :  x  2 (d)  x :  p  
 2   2 2
4. (a) [1,2] (c) (,4)  (3, )
(b)   4,1 (d) ( ,3]  [13,  )
1 1
5. (a) ( , ]  [3, ) (c) [ ,1]
2 3
(b) (,4]  [ 2,  ) (d) (,2]  [6, )

x , x  0 2  x , x  2
6. (a) x 
 (c) 2 x 

 x , x  0 x  2 , x  2
x  3 , x  3 5x  5 , x  1
(b) x3 
 (d) 5x  5 

 ( x  3) , x  3  (5 x  5) , x  1
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 CHAPTER 2 : INEQUALITIES AND ABSOLUTE VALUES

7. (a) 
1 
(b) 
1
(c) 
1 
(d) 
7
 ,5  5,    ,7   1, 
 3   3  3   3

8. (a) 
5 9
(c) 
1
(d) 
1
 ,  (b)   3,2  7,   7, 
4 2  3  3
 2 8
9. (a)  2,0, ,  (c)   6,5,0,1
 3 3
 
(b)  2 6 ,2 6 
3 33 3  33
(d)  2, 2
,
2
,5
 
5
10. (a) (3,3) (c) ( , )
2
2
(b)   4,3 (d) (, ]  [14, )
3
 8
11. (a)  x : 2  x   (c)  x : x  15  x  15
 3
(b)  x : x   3  (d)  x : x  4  x  8
 2
12. m  4, n  2
13. m  9, n  4
1
14. (a) ( 4,2) (c) ( , ]  [1, )
2
(b) ( ,11]  [14, ) (d) (  , )
5
15. (a) (1, ) (b)
2

7
x , x  2, x  1.257, x  1.591
3
16. m  3, n  2
17. (a) (,1)  (2, )
(b) ( ,4)  (1, )

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