Comprehensive Oxford Mathematics and Physics Online School (COMPOS)

Year 12

Mathematics Assignment 10
Inequalities
David Vaccaro, Vladimir Chernov, Alexander Lvovsky

Due 7th July, 2024

This is the eleventh Mathematics assignment from COMPOS. This assignment is designed to stretch
you and no student is expected to complete all questions on the first attempt. The problems are hard,
but do not let this discourage you. Give each problem a go, and skip to the next one if you are stuck.
The questions in each section are arranged in the order of increasing complexity, so you should try all
sections. Very similar problems will be discussed in tutorials and webinars, so think of the questions
you would like to ask. We hope that eventually you will be able to solve most of the problems. Good
luck!

Total 86 marks.

This assignment is dedicated to inequalities. Similarly to equations, inequalities are solved by performing
identical transformations on its parts. When solving equations, we encountered situations in which such
operations can introduce extra roots or result in loss of valid roots. With inequalities, this risk is exacerbated
by the fact that the solution sets are not isolated numbers, but continuous intervals on the number axis.
Errors cannot be discovered by “sanity checks”: we cannot substitute infinitely many roots to see if the
inequality is valid. Moreover, some identical operations on the two parts may change the sign of the inequality.
The only way to avoid errors is to keep track how each transformation affects the inequality for any value of
the unknown variable. Does it change the domain of the functions in the two sides? Does it change the sign
of the inequality? Does it involve squaring of a negative number? Such bookkeeping is tedious, but entirely
doable, as we shall see in the examples below.

1 Rational inequalities

Rational inequalities are inequalities involving algebraic fractions. It is important to remember that you
must be careful about multiplying both sides of an inequality by an algebraic expression, as if that algebraic
expression is ever negative then the direction of the inequality would need to be reversed.

1.1 Multiplying both sides by a function

1
Example 1. Solve the inequality < 1.
3 − 2x

Solution. Let us multiply both sides of the inequality by 3 − 2x. We must keep in mind, however, that the

1
inequality will change sign if 3 − 2x < 0. hence our inequality is equivalent to

(1 < 3 − 2x ∧ 3 − 2x > 0) ∨ (1 > 3 − 2x ∧ 3 − 2x < 0),

where ∧ and ∨ denote logical “and” and “or”, respectively. This is equivalent to
3 3 3
(x < 1 ∧ x < ) ∨ (x > 1 ∧ x > ) ⇔ x < 1 ∨ x > .
2 2 2
We hence have the solution: {x : x < 1} ∪ {x : x > 32 }. Since the inequality is satisfied by points which are
in either of the two intervals, the solution set is a union of two intervals.

Problem 1 (6 marks). Solve the following inequalities.

x
a) < 3;
2+x
x−9
b) ≤ x;
x−5
x−1
c) < 14 .
x+2

Problem 2 (STEP 1 2003, 4 marks). Solve the inequality

sin θ + 1
≤1
cos θ
for 0 ≤ θ < 2π.

1.2 Graphs for solving inequalities

An important tool for avoiding errors when solving inequalities is plotting graphs of the two sides.

Example 2. Solve the inequality

1
x<
x

Solution.

1
Sketching the graphs of y = x and y = x shows two points of intersection, A and B.

2
 y

The x-coordinates of the points of intersection, A and B, can be found using algebra.

1
x=
x
x2 = 1
x = 1 ∨ x = −1

Now, considering when the line y = x lies below the curve y = x1 , gives the solution {x : x < −1} ∪ {x : 0 <
x < 1}.

This graphical approach to inequalities often involves more work than other methods, but especially if you
have a graphical calculator or graphing software like Desmos available then it is a good way to develop an
intuitive understanding.

Problem 3 (4 marks). Solve the inequality sin x + 1 > cos 2x. Note: give all intervals

1.3 Method of Intervals

When solving polynomial (e.g. quadratic) equations, we found that it was convenient to equate the algebraic
expression to zero and to then use factorisation. This idea turns out to be useful for rational inequalities
too, since after factorisation we can consider the sign of each factor in different sections of the real line.

Example 3. Solve the inequality

x 2
≤− .
(x − 3)(x + 1) 5

Solution.

2
We begin by adding 5 (to get an inequality with zero on the RHS) and then factorise the resulting expression
into linear factors:

3
 x 2 5x + 2x2 − 4x − 6
+ =
(x − 3)(x + 1) 5 5(x − 3)(x + 1)
2x2 + x − 6
=
5(x − 3)(x + 1)
(2x − 3)(x + 2)
= .
5(x − 3)(x + 1)

We now consider the resulting inequality

(2x − 3)(x + 2)
≤0
5(x − 3)(x + 1)

3
The critical values, where brackets change sign, are x = −2, x = −1, x = 2 and x = 3. We can consider the
sign of each bracket by drawing a table.

3
x < −2 x = −2 −2 < x < −1 −1 < x < 2 x = 32 3
2 <x<3 x>3
(x + 2) -ve 0 +ve +ve +ve +ve +ve
(x + 1) -ve -ve -ve +ve +ve +ve +ve
(2x − 3) -ve -ve -ve -ve 0 +ve +ve
(x − 3) -ve -ve -ve -ve -ve -ve +ve
(2x − 3)(x + 2)
+ve 0 -ve +ve 0 -ve +ve
5(x − 3)(x + 1)

The last line of the table can be shown graphically as follows:

+ + +
• •
−2 −1 1.5 3 x
− −

The function has constant sign between critical points. To find the sign we need to substitute a value from
the far right interval. For example, the LHS is positive when x = 5, hence the plus sign. Then going from
right to left the sign changes at critical points.

The solution set is the union of intervals where the function is negative: x ∈ [−2; −1) ∪ [3/2; 3), which can
also be written as {x : −2 ≤ x < −1} ∪ {x : 32 ≤ x < 3}.

Notice that we needed to be careful about whether to include the end points of each boundary. We included
x = −2 and x = 23 because at those points the function equals zero (and hence satisfies the non-strict
inequality), but we excluded the points x = −1 and x = 3 where the function is not defined. In the graph,
we marked the excluded points by circles and the behavior of the function around these points by rounded
curves.

4
Problem 4 (4 marks).

x2 + x − 20
a) > 0;
(x − 3)x
 2
3−x
b) ≥ 1.
2+x

2 Inequalities with roots

When considering inequalities involving roots, one needs to think both about the interval where the inequality
is satisfied and the interval on which the roots are defined.

Example 4. Solve the inequality p

x2 − 4x > x − 3.

Solution.

Naı̈vely, we would just square both parts, obtaining x2 − 4x > (x − 3)2 ⇒ x > 92 . However, we must account
for (a) the requirement that the expression under the root is non-negative, i.e. x ≥ 4 ∨ x ≤ 0 and (b) the
possibility that the RHS is negative (x < 3), in which case (as long as the LHS is defined) the inequality is
satisfied automatically. Hence the solution is
9 9
(x ≥ 4 ∨ x ≤ 0) ∧ (x < 3 ∨ x > ) ⇔ x≤0∨x> .
2 2

A good way to avoid such bookkeeping is, again, by using graphs and/or a bit of ingenuity.

Example 5. Solve the inequality √ √

x+ x + 5 < 5.

Solution.
√
We begin by noting that both roots are defined if and only if x ≥ 0, since if x is negative then x is not
defined.
√ √
An important observation is that x + x + 5 is a monotone increasing function. This implies that the
desired values of x are those to the left of the point of intersection.

5
 y

(0, 5)
A

√
(0, 5)

We can find the position of A using algebra.

√ √
x+ x+5=5
√ √
x+5=5− x
√
x + 5 = 25 − 10 x + x
√
x=2
x=4

We this have the co-ordinates A(4, 5) and the inequality is satisfied when 0 ≤ x < 4

Example 6. Solve the inequality √

x+1 1
< .
x−1 2

√
Solution. We first note that x ≥ 0, and so we can write x = ( x)2 which allows us to simplify the left hand
side as:

√ √
x+1 x+1
= √ √
x−1 ( x − 1)( x + 1)
1
=√ .
x−1

√
√1 3− x
This means we have to solve x−1
< 12 , and rewriting this as √
x−1
< 0 gives:
√ √
x < 1 or x > 3.

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Solving these inequalities (and recalling that the function is not defined for negative x) gives

{x : 0 ≤ x < 1} ∪ {x : x > 9}.

Problem 5 (3 marks). Solve the inequality

√ √
x − 4 + x + 3 < 7.

Problem 6 (3 marks). Solve the inequality

√
x − 3 < x − 5.

Problem 7 (3 marks). Solve the inequality

r
x2 − x
< 1.
x+3

Problem 8 (STEP I 2001, 5 marks).

Solve the inequality √ √

3x + 10 > 2 + x + 4.

3 Inequalities with modulus

Example 7. Solve the inequality

3
<1
2 − 3x

Solution.

3 3
For this inequality to hold we require that both 2−3x < 1 and 2−3x > −1. We can solve these separately.

3
For 2−3x < 1 we have:

3
<1
2 − 3x
3
−1<0
2 − 3x
3x + 1
<0
2 − 3x

2
Using the method of intervals we get x > 3 or x < − 31

7
 3
For 2−3x > −1 we have:

3
> −1
2 − 3x
3
+1>0
2 − 3x
5 − 3x
>0
2 − 3x

2
Using the method of intervals gives x < 3 or x > 53 .

For both sets of these inequalities to be satisfied we require either x < − 13 or x > 35 .

This inequality can be well understood using a sketch.

(− 31 , 1)
y=1

( 53 , −1) y = −1

This subsequent example also shows the usefulness of a sketch.

Example 8. Solve the inequality

|2x − 1| < |x − 1|

Solution.

A quick sketch shows that the values of x lie between points A and B.

8
 y

y = |2x − 1|
y = |x − 1|
A

B
x
( 12 , 0) (1, 0)

We can find the x-coordinates of A and B by finding the points of intersection of the appropriate branches.

To find A we solve 1 − 2x = 1 − x, which gives x = 0, and to find B we solve 1 − 2x = x − 1 which gives

x = 32 . Considering the relative position of the two graphs shows that x lies in the interval {x : 0 < x < 23 }.

Problem 9. (4 marks) Solve the inequality

x2 − 28
<1
x2− 6x + 8

Problem 10 (6 marks).

a) Solve the equation

|x − 2| + |x − 5| = 3.

b) Solve the inequality

|x − 2| < |x − 5| .

Problem 11 (6 marks).

a) Sketch the graph

y = |x − 3| + |x − 2| + |x + 1|.

b) Sketch the graph of y = x2 on the same axes.

c) Hence, solve the inequality
x2 < |x − 3| + |x − 2| + |x + 1|.

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4 Inequalities with logarithmic and exponential functions.

Such inequalities may appear daunting, but are usually solved using a simple trick. You find a single
trigonometric, logarithmic or exponential expression within the inequality, through which you express all
other such expression. Then you can treat this expression as a new unknown variable, for which the problem
reduces to a simple rational inequality.

Example 9. Solve the inequality

22x − 2x+1 − 3 < 0.
Solution.

We begin by setting 2x = y, then 2x+1 = 2y. Hence we can rewrite the inequality as y 2 − 2y − 3 < 0.
Factorising gives (y − 3)(y + 1) < 0 and solving this quadratic inequality means that −1 < y < 3.

We must now solve −1 < 2x < 3. As 2x > 0 for x, we just need to solve 2x < 3. As 2x is a monotone
increasing function we have x < log2 3. The graph makes this final observation clear:

y
y = 2x

y=3
(log2 3, 3)

Inequalities involving logarithms can also be solved by noting that y = loga x is monotone increasing.

Example 10. Solve the inequality

(log10 x)2 − 3(log10 x) + 2 < 0

Solution.

Factorising gives (log10 x − 2)(log10 x − 1) < 0, and solving this quadratic inequality gives 1 < log10 x < 2,
corresponding to 10 < x < 100.

Problem 12. (12 marks) Solve the inequalities:

a)
4x + 2x+1 − 8 ≤ 0;

10
 b)
log2 x − log x − 4
> 1;
log x − 1

c)
log3 x < logx 3;

d)
 1/x2 !x2 −3x
5
≥ 1;
8

e)
log9 (x + 5) > log3 (x + 3);

f)
log20.5 x + 3 log0.5 x < −2.

5 Proving inequalities

Problem 13 (6 marks). Let a and b be positive numbers with a ≤ b. As you know, their arithmetic mean
a+b
is given by A = .
2

√
a) The geometric mean of a and b is G = ab. Show that G ≤ A.
 
1 1 1 1
b) The harmonic mean of a and b is the number H defined by = + . Show that a ≤ H ≤ G.
H 2 a b
r
a2 + b2
c) The quadratic mean (or root mean square) of a and b is S2 = . Show that A ≤ S2 ≤ b.
2
d) Under which circumstances does each of these inequalities saturate (become equalities)?

Problem 14 (2 marks).

Show that for all positive numbers x, y and z,

xy + yz + zx ≤ x2 + y 2 + z 2 .

Prove that equality occurs if and only if x = y = z.

Problem 15. (8 marks) The following diagram shows the graph of y = ln x and the tangent to the curve at
the point where x = k

11
 y

(k, ln k)

a) The tangent to y = ln x at x = k passes through the origin. Find the value of k.

b) Explain why the tangent lies above the curve.
c) Hence establish that
eπ > π e .

Problem 16∗ (10 marks).

The following diagram shows the graph of y = ln x between x = 1 and x = N where N is a natural number.

y
(N, ln N )

a) Find an approximation for the integral

Z N
ln x dx
1
by using the trapezium rule with x-coordinates at x = 1, 2, 3 . . . N .
b) Explain with reason whether the approximation using the trapezium rule is an over or an under-
estimate.
c) By evaluating the integral exactly establish the inequality
1
N N+ 2
N! < .
eN −1
d) Can you find a lower bound for (N !)?

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