Quadratic Inequalities
IES Sierra Nevada
Algebra
Quadratics
Before we get started let’s review.
A quadratic equation is an equation that can
2
be written in the formax bx c 0 ,
where a, b and c are real numbers and a cannot
equal
zero.
In this lesson we are going to discuss quadratic
inequalities.
Quadratic Inequalities
What do they look like?
Here are some examples:
2
x 3x 7 0
3x 2 4 x 4 0
x 2 16
Quadratic Inequalities
When solving inequalities we are trying to
find all possible values of the variable
which will make the inequality true.
x2 x 6 0
Consider the inequality
We are trying to find all the values of x for which
the
quadratic is greater than zero.
Solving a quadratic
inequality
We can find the values where the quadratic
equals zero 2
x x 6 0
by solving the equation,
Solving a quadratic
inequality
Now, put these values on a number line and
we can see three intervals that we will test in
the inequality. We will test one value from
each interval.
Solving a quadratic
inequality
Interval Test Evaluate in the inequality True/
Point False
x2 x 6 0
, 2 x 3 32 3 6 9 3 6 6 0 True
x2 x 6 0
2, 3 x 0 02 0 6 0 0 6 6 0 False
x2 x 6 0
3, x 4 42 4 6 16 4 6 6 0 True
Solving a quadratic
inequality
Thus the intervals , 2 3, make up
x2 x 6 0
the solution set for the quadratic inequality,
.
It’s representation is:
Summary
In summary, the steps for solving quadratic
inequalities are:
1. Solve the equation.
2. Plot the solutions on a number line creating
the intervals.
3. Pick a number from each interval and test it in
the original inequality. If the result is true, that
interval is a solution to the inequality.
4. Write properly the solution (the interval and
the representation)
Example 2:
2
Solve 2 x 3x 1 0
2
2 x 3x 1 0
First find the zeros by solving the equation,
1
x or x 1
2
Now consider the intervals around the
solutions and test a value from each interval in
the inequality.
Example 2:
Interval Test Point Evaluate in Inequality True/False
2 x 2 3x 1 0
1
20 30 1 0 0 1 1 0
, 2
2 x 0 False
2 x 2 3x 1 0
2
1 3 3 9 9 1
,1
2 x
3 2 3 1 1 0 True
4 4 4 8 4 8
2 x 2 3x 1 0
1, 22 32 1 8 6 1 3 0 False
2
x 2
Example 2:
1
Thus the interval ,1 makes up the solution set
2
for
2 x 2 3x 1 0
the inequality .
Plot the solution!!
Example 3:
Solve the inequality 2 x 2 x 1 .
First find the solutions.
2 x 2 x 1 or 2 x 2 x 1 0
1 1 4 2 1 1 7
2
x
2 2 4
WHAT CAN WE DO NOW??
Practice Problems
x 2 5 x 24 0 5 x 2 13 x 6 0
12 x x 2 0 9 x 2 0
3x 2 5 x 2 0 2 x 2 5x 1 0
16 x 2 1 0 x 2 5x 4
3x 2 2 x 1 0 x 2 2 x 4
