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Secondary 6 · Mathematics
Equations · Inequalities and systems of inequalities

Absolute value inequalities

At the corner colmado, a bag of rice should weigh 5 pounds, and the owner accepts a difference of up to 0.1 pounds. How can you write that with a single inequality? With the absolute value, which measures distances on the real number line. That idea turns any absolute value inequality into one or two ordinary inequalities.

Absolute value as distance

Representation on the real number line of absolute value as the distance between the points 3 and x. |x − 3| = distance between x and 3 distance 3x
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Solve the inequality $|x - 5| < 3$ and express the solution as an interval.

Solve the inequality $|x - 5| < 3$ and express the solution as an interval.

Solve
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Find all real numbers $x$ that satisfy the inequality $|2x + 4| \geq 8$.

Find all real numbers $x$ that satisfy the inequality $|2x + 4| \geq 8$.

Solve
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Express the following statement using an absolute value inequality: "The distance between a number $x$ and $7$ is strictly less than $4$". Then, determine the solution…

Express the following statement using an absolute value inequality: "The distance between a number $x$ and $7$ is strictly less than $4$". Then, determine the solution set.

Solve

Isolating x when there are coefficients

If inside the absolute value there is an expression like $3x-1$, it is treated the same way: first rewrite it, then solve for $x$ in all the parts.

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Solve the following modulus inequality: $|3x - 1| \leq 5$.

Solve the following modulus inequality: $|3x - 1| \leq 5$.

Solve
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Determine the solution set of the inequality $|-x + 6| > 2$.

Determine the solution set of the inequality $|-x + 6| > 2$.

Solve
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Solve the inequality $\left| \frac{x}{3} - 2 \right| \leq 1$.

Solve the inequality $\left| \frac{x}{3} - 2 \right| \leq 1$.

Solve
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Solve the inequality $5 - |x - 2| > 1$.

Solve the inequality $5 - |x - 2| > 1$.

Solve

Cases with no solution or with the whole line as the solution

Since $|x|\geq0$ always, some inequalities can be solved just by reasoning about the sign.

Three quick cases: no solution, solution on the whole line, and solution at a single point. |2x − 5| < −1no solution (negative distance, impossible) |x + 4| ≥ −3always holds whenever x + 4 exists |x + 4| ≤ 0only x = −4
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Justify whether the following inequalities have a solution in the set of real numbers and, if so, find it: a) $|x + 4| \leq 0$ b) $|2x - 5| < -1$

Justify whether the following inequalities have a solution in the set of real numbers and, if so, find it:

  1. a) $|x + 4| \leq 0$
  2. b) $|2x - 5| < -1$
Solve

Tolerances and margins of error

The most common context for absolute value is a tolerance: a measurement that must be close to an ideal value, with a maximum margin of error.

Symmetric tolerance interval on the real number line centered at 12.5 with a margin of error of 0.15. |L − 12.5| ≤ 0.15 0.150.15 12.3512.512.65
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In an electronic components factory, the ideal length of a chip is $12.5$ mm. For quality control reasons, a maximum margin of error of $0.15$ mm is accepted. Write a…

In an electronic components factory, the ideal length of a chip is $12.5$ mm. For quality control reasons, a maximum margin of error of $0.15$ mm is accepted. Write a modulus inequality that models this situation for the length $L$ of the chip and solve it to find the interval of acceptable lengths.

Solve
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The pH of a swimming pool must be maintained at an optimal level of $7.4$. For the water to be suitable for swimming, the absolute difference between the current pH and…

The pH of a swimming pool must be maintained at an optimal level of $7.4$. For the water to be suitable for swimming, the absolute difference between the current pH and the optimal pH must not exceed $5\%$ of the optimal value. Set up the corresponding modulus inequality and determine the range of permitted pH levels.

Solve
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The temperature $T$ (in degrees Celsius) of an industrial furnace fluctuates during operation such that $|2T - 300| \leq 50$. If for safety reasons in the smelting…

The temperature $T$ (in degrees Celsius) of an industrial furnace fluctuates during operation such that $|2T - 300| \leq 50$. If for safety reasons in the smelting process the temperature cannot drop below $130^\circ$C at any time, verify mathematically whether the furnace meets the safety regulations guaranteed by its fluctuation.

Solve

Quadratic expressions, rational expressions, and the variable on both sides

When inside the absolute value there is a quadratic or rational expression, the method does not change: you rewrite it as a double inequality or as two pieces, and then solve each part with the techniques for quadratic inequalities.

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Solve the quadratic modulus inequality $|x^2 - 5| < 4$.

Solve the quadratic modulus inequality $|x^2 - 5| < 4$.

Solve
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Find the values of $x$ that satisfy the inequality $|2x - 3| < x + 1$.

Find the values of $x$ that satisfy the inequality $|2x - 3| < x + 1$.

Solve
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Solve the rational modulus inequality $\frac{2}{|x - 3|} \geq 1$.

Solve the rational modulus inequality $\frac{2}{|x - 3|} \geq 1$.

Solve
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Find the solution set of the inequality $|x - 2| < |x + 4|$ by geometrically interpreting the modulus as the distance between points on the number line.

Find the solution set of the inequality $|x - 2| < |x + 4|$ by geometrically interpreting the modulus as the distance between points on the number line.

Solve
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Find the solution set of the inequality $|x - 1| + |x - 3| \leq 6$. The figure shows the graph of $f(x) = |x-1| + |x-3|$ (in blue) and the line $y = 6$ (in green). You…

Find the solution set of the inequality $|x - 1| + |x - 3| \leq 6$.

The figure shows the graph of $f(x) = |x-1| + |x-3|$ (in blue) and the line $y = 6$ (in green). You can use it to check the result you obtain algebraically.

Graph of f(x) = |x−1| + |x−3|, V-shaped with a flat bottom, and the horizontal line y = 6−2−1012345672468xyf(x) = |x − 1| + |x − 3|y = 6
Solve

Systems, parameters, and problems

A system of absolute value inequalities is solved like this: solve each inequality separately and intersect the solutions.

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Solve the following system of linear modulus inequalities: $$ \begin{cases} |x - 2| \leq 4 \\ |x + 1| > 2 \end{cases} $$

Solve the following system of linear modulus inequalities:

$$ \begin{cases} |x - 2| \leq 4 \\ |x + 1| > 2 \end{cases} $$
Solve
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Solve the inequality $|x^2 - 4x| > 3x$. Express the solution as a union of intervals.

Solve the inequality $|x^2 - 4x| > 3x$. Express the solution as a union of intervals.

Solve
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Determine for which values of the real parameter $k$ the solution set of the inequality $|x - k| \leq 3$ is strictly contained in the interval $[-1, 8]$.

Determine for which values of the real parameter $k$ the solution set of the inequality $|x - k| \leq 3$ is strictly contained in the interval $[-1, 8]$.

Solve
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Solve the following system of combined inequalities: $$ \begin{cases} |x^2 - 4| \leq 5 \\ |2x - 1| \geq 3 \end{cases} $$

Solve the following system of combined inequalities:

$$ \begin{cases} |x^2 - 4| \leq 5 \\ |2x - 1| \geq 3 \end{cases} $$
Solve
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The speed of a vehicle at an instant $t$ (in seconds) is given by the expression $v(t) = |3t - 15|$ m/s. Determine during which time interval the speed of the vehicle is…

The speed of a vehicle at an instant $t$ (in seconds) is given by the expression $v(t) = |3t - 15|$ m/s. Determine during which time interval the speed of the vehicle is strictly less than $6$ m/s and calculate the total distance travelled in that interval, considering that the vehicle moves in a straight line.

Solve
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Solve the rational modulus inequality $\left| \frac{2x - 1}{x + 2} \right| \geq 1$.

Solve the rational modulus inequality $\left| \frac{2x - 1}{x + 2} \right| \geq 1$.

Solve
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Consider the inequality $|x^2 - a^2| \leq a^2$, where $a > 0$ is a constant real parameter. Express the solution set of this inequality in terms of the parameter $a$.

Consider the inequality $|x^2 - a^2| \leq a^2$, where $a > 0$ is a constant real parameter. Express the solution set of this inequality in terms of the parameter $a$.

Solve
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In a study of optics and refraction, the deviation of a light beam from its ideal path is given by the function $d(x) = |x| - |x - 2|$. Solve the inequality…

In a study of optics and refraction, the deviation of a light beam from its ideal path is given by the function $d(x) = |x| - |x - 2|$. Solve the inequality $|d(x)| \leq 1$ to find the values of $x$ for which the deviation remains within the margins tolerable by the instrument.

Solve

Back to the beginning: the bag of rice satisfies $|p-5|\leq0.1$, that is, it weighs between $4.9$ and $5.1$ pounds.

Summary

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