Inequalities Cheat Sheet Edexcel Further Pure 1

In this chapter, you will learn to solve inequalities with algebraic fractions or modulus, by using either the algebraic Graphical method Modulus inequalities
or graphical approach. For an inequality 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) < 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥), you can sketch the graphs for 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) and 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) on the same set of axes, For inequalities involving a modulus sign, it may be helpful to use the graphical approach.
and then observe which parts of the graph satisfies the inequality. The critical values can be found by equating
Algebraic Methods the left-hand side to right-hand side and solving the equation. Make sure to check if the question specifies Example 4: Solve |𝑥𝑥 + 3| < 2𝑥𝑥 + 5
For inequalities which involve an algebraic fraction, for example, whether an algebraic or graphical method should be used!
𝑥𝑥
< 𝑥𝑥
𝑥𝑥 + 3 Example 2: Solve
3
≥ 𝑥𝑥 + 3 using the graphical method.
We cannot simply multiply 𝑥𝑥 by (𝑥𝑥 + 3) and cancel out 𝑥𝑥, as this will only solve for one of the critical values. 2𝑥𝑥+1

To solve these inequalities:

• We first multiply the whole inequality with the square of the denominator, which is (𝑥𝑥 + 3)2 in this
case. We use the squared denominator to ensure that it is always positive, as multiplying the whole Sketch 𝑦𝑦 = |𝑥𝑥 + 3| and 𝑦𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑥 + 5
inequality by a negative number will cause the inequality sign to be turned, and wrong intervals will
3
be chosen. Sketch the graphs 𝑦𝑦 = and 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥 + 3 on the
2𝑥𝑥+1
• Then, we rearrange the terms so that all terms are on one side of the sign and the other side is 0. same scale
• Next, we solve the inequality for the critical values.
• Using the critical values and by sketching a graph, we can find the intervals which fulfil the inequality.

Strict and Non-strict Inequalities

• Strict inequalities are in the form of 𝑎𝑎 < 𝑏𝑏 or 𝑎𝑎 > 𝑏𝑏. This means that a is either lesser than or greater 𝑥𝑥 + 3 = 2𝑥𝑥 + 5
than b, but a and b are not equal. Find the points of intersection by equating LHS to 3 𝑥𝑥 = −2
= 𝑥𝑥 + 3
• Non-strict inequalities are in the form of 𝑎𝑎 ≤ 𝑏𝑏 or 𝑎𝑎 ≥ 𝑏𝑏. This means that a is “lesser than or equals RHS 2𝑥𝑥 + 1
−(𝑥𝑥 + 3) = 2𝑥𝑥 + 5
to” b or “greater than or equals to b”. 3 = (𝑥𝑥 + 3)(2𝑥𝑥 + 1) Find the critical values by solving both 𝑥𝑥 + 3 = 2𝑥𝑥 + 5 −𝑥𝑥 − 3 = 2𝑥𝑥 + 5
• For strict inequalities, our critical values are not included in the solution, so we use the signs “<” or 3 = 2𝑥𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑥 + 6𝑥𝑥 + 3 and −(𝑥𝑥 + 3) = 2𝑥𝑥 + 5 3𝑥𝑥 = −8
“>”. 2𝑥𝑥 2 + 7𝑥𝑥 = 0 8
• For non-strict inequalities, our critical values are also included in the intervals, so we use the signs “≤” Solve the equation to find the critical values 𝑥𝑥 = −
𝑥𝑥(2𝑥𝑥 + 7) = 0 3
or “≥”. 7 8
∴ CV = 0, − ∴ CV = −2, −
2 3
𝑥𝑥
Example 1: Solve < 𝑥𝑥, 𝑥𝑥 ≠ −3. 1
𝑥𝑥+3 Note the vertical asymptotes 𝑥𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥𝑥 = − Using your graph and critical values found, you can
2
identify the 𝑥𝑥-coordinate of the intersection point and
Multiply both sides of the inequality with the squared 𝑥𝑥 Select the intervals according to the graph. We find out what values of 𝑥𝑥 satisfy the inequality. Here, 𝑥𝑥 > −2
(𝑥𝑥 + 3)2 < 𝑥𝑥(𝑥𝑥 + 3)2
denominator, (𝑥𝑥 + 3)2 𝑥𝑥 + 3 want to find the interval for which the red curve, 7 1
𝑥𝑥 < − or − ≤ 𝑥𝑥 ≤ 0 we want the interval in which the red line is below the
3 2 2
Simplify the terms on each side 𝑥𝑥(𝑥𝑥 + 3) < 𝑥𝑥(𝑥𝑥 + 3)2 𝑦𝑦 = , is above the blue line, 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥 + 3 blue.
2𝑥𝑥+1
Move all terms to one side 0 < 𝑥𝑥(𝑥𝑥 + 3)2 − 𝑥𝑥(𝑥𝑥 + 3)
0 < 𝑥𝑥(𝑥𝑥 2 + 6𝑥𝑥 + 9) − (𝑥𝑥 2 + 3𝑥𝑥)
Expand the brackets Example 5: Solve |𝑥𝑥 2 − 9| − 2 > 2𝑥𝑥 + 4. Write you answer in set notation.
0 < 𝑥𝑥 3 + 6𝑥𝑥 2 + 9𝑥𝑥 − 𝑥𝑥 2 − 3𝑥𝑥 Example 3: Solve
2𝑥𝑥
>
2
using the graphical method.
𝑥𝑥+6 𝑥𝑥−4
Simplify the inequality 0 < 𝑥𝑥 3 + 5𝑥𝑥 2 + 6𝑥𝑥 Rearrange the terms so that the modulus is on
0 < 𝑥𝑥(𝑥𝑥 2 + 5𝑥𝑥 + 6) one side, and other terms are on the other side |𝑥𝑥 2 − 9| > 2𝑥𝑥 + 6
0 < 𝑥𝑥(𝑥𝑥 + 2)(𝑥𝑥 + 3) of the inequality sign
Factorise to find the critical values
∴ CV = −3, −2, 0

2𝑥𝑥 2
Sketch the graphs 𝑦𝑦 = and 𝑦𝑦 = on the
𝑥𝑥+6 𝑥𝑥−4
same scale
Sketch 𝑦𝑦 = |𝑥𝑥 2 − 9| and 𝑦𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑥 + 6

Sketch the graph for the equation 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥(𝑥𝑥 + 2)(𝑥𝑥 = 3)

Find the points of intersection by equating LHS to 2𝑥𝑥 2

=
RHS 𝑥𝑥 + 6 𝑥𝑥 − 4
𝑥𝑥 2 − 9 = 2𝑥𝑥 + 6
Select the appropriate intervals. We are looking for values of 2𝑥𝑥(𝑥𝑥 − 4) = 2(𝑥𝑥 + 6) 𝑥𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑥 − 15 = 0
Find the critical values by solving
𝑥𝑥 for which 𝑦𝑦 > 0. Since we only want values for “greater 2𝑥𝑥 2 − 8𝑥𝑥 = 2𝑥𝑥 + 12 (𝑥𝑥 − 5)(𝑥𝑥 + 3) = 0
−3 < 𝑥𝑥 < −2 or 𝑥𝑥 > 0 𝑥𝑥 2 − 9 = 2𝑥𝑥 + 6
than” and not “equal to”, our critical values are not in the 2𝑥𝑥 2 − 10𝑥𝑥 − 12 = 0
interval. Solve the equation to find the critical values 𝑥𝑥 2 − 5𝑥𝑥 − 6 = 0 ∴ CV = −3, 5
(𝑥𝑥 − 6)(𝑥𝑥 + 1) = 0 −(𝑥𝑥 2 − 9) = 2𝑥𝑥 + 6
𝑥𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝑥 − 3 = 0
If there are more than one algebraic fraction in the inequality, multiply both sides with the square denominators Find the remaining critical values by solving
∴ CV = −1, 6 (𝑥𝑥 + 3)(𝑥𝑥 − 1) = 0
of each algebraic fractions. −(𝑥𝑥 2 − 9) = 2𝑥𝑥 + 6
Note the vertical asymptotes 𝑥𝑥 = −6 and 𝑥𝑥 = 4 ∴ CV = −3, 1
Select the intervals according to the graph. We Select the appropriate intervals. We are
want to find the interval for which the red curve, 𝑥𝑥 < −6, −1 < 𝑥𝑥 < 4 or 𝑥𝑥 > 6 looking for values of 𝑥𝑥 for which the red curve,
𝑥𝑥 < −3, −3 < 𝑥𝑥 < 1 or 𝑥𝑥 > 5
𝑦𝑦 =
2𝑥𝑥
, is above the blue curve, 𝑦𝑦 =
2
. 𝑦𝑦 = |𝑥𝑥 2 − 9|, is above the blue line, 𝑦𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑥 +
𝑥𝑥+6 𝑥𝑥−4 6.
Write your answer in set notation {𝑥𝑥: 𝑥𝑥 < −3} ∪ {𝑥𝑥: − 3 < 𝑥𝑥 < 1} ∪ {𝑥𝑥: 𝑥𝑥 > 5}

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