Quadratic and Other Polynomial Inequalities

Quadratic and Other Polynomial Inequalities

 

Inequalities like the following are called quadratic inequalities:

x2 + 3x – 10 < 0,  5x2 – 3x + 2 ≥ 0.

In each case, we have a polynomial of degree 2 on the left. We will solve such inequalities in two ways. The first method provides understanding and the second yields the more efficient method.

The first method for solving a quadratic inequality, such as ax2 + bx + c > 0, is by considering the graph of a related function, f(x) = ax2 + bx + c.

To solve a polynomial inequality:

 

a. Get 0 on one side, set the expression on the other side equal to 0,

and solve to find the x-intercepts.

b. Use the numbers found in step (a) to divide the number line into

intervals.

c. Substitute a number from each interval into the related function.

If the function value is positive, then the expression will be

positive for all numbers in the interval. If the function value is

negative, then the expression will be negative for all numbers in

the interval.

d. Select the intervals for which the inequality is satisfied and write

set-builder or interval notation for the solution set.

 

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