Integrated Mathematics I Lesson 2.

6 Day 1: Solving Absolute Value Inequalities

Essential Question: How can you solve an absolute value inequality?
Lesson Objective(s): Students will solve absolute value inequalities.
Students will use absolute value inequalities to solve real-life problems.
Previous Learning: Students learned to solve absolute value equations in Section 1.4.
New Vocabulary: absolute value inequality, absolute deviation
Previous Vocabulary: compound inequality, mean
Materials for Teacher: index cards
Materials for Students: graphing calculators or spreadsheet software
Pacing: Day 1 45 minutes
INTRODUCTION (5 minutes)

Other Resources

Warm Up
Have students answer Warm Up questions. Review the answers as a class.
Review previously assigned homework, if necessary.

Motivate from Lauries Notes in the Teaching Edition

Dynamic Classroom
Start Thinking, Warm
Up, and Cumulative Review
Warm Up
Homework Check
Answer Presentation

Have nine volunteers, each with an index card with an integer from 4 to 4, form a number line at the front of the room
facing their classmates. When you show an inequality, the volunteers holding a solution are to take a step forward. The
others should remain in place. Examples: |x| 2, The following step forward: 2, 1, 0, 1, 2; |x| > 1, The following step
forward: 4, 3, 2, 2, 3, 4. Then ask students what type of compound inequality the less than inequalities remind them of,
and what type of compound inequality the greater than inequalities remind them of.
Discuss
Students solved absolute value equations in Section 1.4. Now they are combining that skill with their understanding of
compound inequalities to solve absolute value inequalities. Ask students what |x| = 2 means geometrically, and then graph
the solutions. Then ask students what |x| < 2 means geometrically, and then graph the solutions. Finally, ask the students
EXPLORATION
(15 minutes)
what |x| > 2 means1geometrically,
and then graph the solutions. Connect these two types of absolute value inequalities to
student understanding of and and or compound inequalities.
Solving an Absolute Value Inequality Algebraically
In this exploration, students solve an absolute value inequality algebraically.

Have students work in pairs to complete parts (a) (c).

Students may be uncertain of how to describe the values of x + 2 that make the inequality true. Tell them that the
quantity inside the absolute value symbols is less than or equal to 3, or greater than or equal to 3. This leads to
the inequalities x + 2 3 and x + 2 3.

Other Resources

Dynamic Classroom
Student Journal
Lauries Notes

Students could use trial and error to see what values work. Connecting their knowledge of solving absolute value
equations and compound inequalities, students should realize that they are looking for an interval bounded by x = 1
above and a negative number below.

The solution is an and compound inequality.

Copyright Big Ideas Learning, LLC

All rights reserved.

296192735
1 of 3

Student Focus on Mathematical Practices: Make Sense of Problems and Persevere in Solving Them
Discuss the Math Practice statement with students.

Big Ideas Math Integrated Mathematics I

Lesson Plan

EXPLORATION 2 (10 minutes)

Other Resources

Solving an Absolute Value Inequality Graphically

In this exploration, students solve the same absolute value inequality as in Exploration 1, but this time they use a number
line.

Have students work in pairs to complete parts (a) (c).

Ask the student what solutions they get when they use the number line.

Other Resources

In this exploration, students solve the same absolute value inequality as in Explorations 1 and 2, but this time they use a
spreadsheet.

Dynamic Classroom
Student Journal
Lauries Notes

Have students work in pairs to complete parts (a) (c).

Students can use the table feature on a graphing calculator. The solution, of course, will be the same as the two
previous explorations.

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING (5 minutes)

Other Resources

Closure (as time permits)

Communicate Your Answer
Give students time to answer Questions 4 and 5.
Have students Turn and Talk to share their thoughts about the three approaches with their partners.

Copyright Big
Ideas Learning, LLC
Homework
Assignment
All rights reserved.

Lauries Notes

The solution to the absolute value inequality is all of the x-values between 5 and 1, inclusive.

Solving an Absolute Value Inequality Numerically

Student Journal

When solving |x| = 3, you are finding the two values that are 3 units from 0, thus making 0 the midpoint. When
solving |x + 2| = 3, you are still finding two values that are 3 units from a midpoint, but the midpoint has been
translated 2 units to the left, where x + 2 = 0. Making the connection to the translation (|x| = 3 |x + 2| = 3) is a Big
Idea that students have already seen and will continue to see in their study of mathematics.

EXPLORATION 3 (10 minutes)

Dynamic Classroom

38

296192735
2 of 3

Dynamic Classroom
Student Journal
Lauries Notes

Other Resources

Puzzle Time
Big Ideas Math Integrated Mathematics I

Student Journal
Lesson Plan

Lesson Tutorials

Skills Review Handbook

Copyright Big Ideas Learning, LLC

All rights reserved.

296192735
3 of 3

Big Ideas Math Integrated Mathematics I

Lesson Plan