Inequalities Trick - GMAT Quantitative Section

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gurpreetsingh I nequalities trick [#permalink] 16 Mar 2010, 09:11
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I learnt this trick while I was in school and yesterday while solving one question I recalled.
Its good if you guys use it 1-2 times to get used to it.
Suppose you have the inequality
f(x) = (x-a)(x-b)(x-c)(x-d) < 0
Just arrange them in order as shown in the picture and draw curve starting from + from right.
now if f(x) < 0 consider curve having "-" inside and if f(x) > 0 consider curve having "+" and combined solution will be the final
solution. I m sure I have recalled it fully but if you guys find any issue on that do let me know, this is very helpful.
Don't forget to arrange then in ascending order from left to right. a<b<c<d
So for f(x) < 0 consider "-" curves and the ans is : (a < x < b) , (c < x < d)
and for f(x) > 0 consider "+" curves and the ans is : (x < a), (b < x < c) , (d < x)
If f(x) has three factors then the graph will have - + - +
If f(x) has four factors then the graph will have + - + - +
If you can not figure out how and why, just remember it.
Try to analyze that the function will have number of roots = number of factors and every time the graph will touch the x
axis.
For the highest factor d if x>d then the whole f(x) > 0 and after every interval of the roots the signs will change
alternatively.
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ttks10 Re: I nequalities trick [#permalink] 16 Mar 2010, 09:46
sidhu4u Re: I nequalities trick [#permalink] 19 Mar 2010, 11:48
gurpreetsingh Re: I nequalities trick [#permalink] 19 Mar 2010, 11:59
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Can u plz explainn the backgoround of this & then the explanation.
Thanks
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I have applied this trick and it seemed to be quite useful.
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ttks10 wrote:
Can u plz explainn the backgoround of this & then the explanation.
Thanks
i m sorry i dont have any background for it, you just re-read it again and try to implement whenever you get such question
and I will help you out in any issue.
sidhu4u wrote:
I have applied this trick and it seemed to be quite useful.
Nice to hear this....good luck.
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Dreamy Re: I nequalities trick [#permalink] 17 Oct 2010, 15:14
gurpreetsingh Re: I nequalities trick [#permalink] 17 Oct 2010, 16:19
radicaltp Re: I nequalities trick [#permalink] 18 Oct 2010, 08:23
ulm Re: I nequalities trick [#permalink] 19 Oct 2010, 03:09
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gurpreetsingh wrote:
and for f(x) < 0 consider "+" curves and the ans is : (x < a), (b < x < c) , (d < x)
I don't understand this part alone. Can you please explain?
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Dreamy wrote:
f(x) = (x-a)(x-b)(x-c)(x-d) < 0 you will consider the curve with -ve inside it.. check the attached image.
f(x) = (x-a)(x-b)(x-c)(x-d) > 0 consider the +ve of the curve
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hey i remember having used this in my Boards ?(School exams) . Thanks Gurpreet . This makes life and its inequalities a lil
easier . +1.
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Dreamy Re: I nequalities trick [#permalink] 21 Oct 2010, 09:52
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if we have smth like (x-a)^2(x-b)
we don't need to change a sign when jump over "a".
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ulm wrote:
in addition:
if we have smth like (x-a)^2(x-b)
we don't need to change a sign when jump over "a".
yes even powers wont contribute to the inequality sign. But be wary of the root value of x=a
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Dreamy wrote:
f(x) = (x-a)(x-b)(x-c)(x-d) < 0 you will consider the curve with -ve inside it.. check the attached image.
f(x) = (x-a)(x-b)(x-c)(x-d) > 0 consider the +ve of the curve
Thank you gurpreet. I understand it now. You need fix the initial post. The second f(x) is also having < 0.
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scheol79 Re: I nequalities trick [#permalink] 21 Oct 2010, 22:12
VeritasPrepKarishma Re: I nequalities trick [#permalink] 22 Oct 2010, 05:33
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Thanks typo fixed.
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Quite interesting.
Do you have any sample questions we can use this method on?
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Yes, this is a neat little way to work with inequalities where factors are multiplied or divided. And, it has a solid reasoning
behind it which I will just explain.
If (x-a)(x-b)(x-c)(x-d) < 0, we can draw the points a, b, c and d on the number line.
e.g. Given (x+2)(x-1)(x-7)(x-4) < 0, draw the points -2, 1, 7 and 4 on the number line as shown.
Attachment:
doc.jpg [ 7.9 KiB | Viewed 19835 times ]
This divides the number line into 5 regions. Values of x in right most region will always give you positive value of the
expression. The reason for this is that if x > 7, all factors above will be positive.
When you jump to the next region between x = 4 and x = 7, value of x here give you negative value for the entire expression
because now, (x - 7) will be negative since x < 7 in this region. All other factors are still positive.
When you jump to the next region on the left between x = 1 and x = 4, expression will be positive again because now two
factors (x - 7) and (x - 4) are negative, but negative x negative is positive... and so on till you reach the leftmost section.
Since we are looking for values of x where the expression is < 0, here the solution will be -2 < x < 1 or 4< x < 7
It should be obvious that it will also work in cases where factors are divided.
e.g. (x - a)(x - b)/(x - c)(x - d) < 0
(x + 2)(x - 1)/(x -4)(x - 7) < 0 will have exactly the same solution as above.
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mrinal2100 Re: I nequalities trick [#permalink] 22 Oct 2010, 10:45
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VeritasPrepKarishma Re: I nequalities trick [#permalink] 11 Mar 2011, 04:40
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Note: If, rather than < or > sign, you have <= or >=, in division, the solution will differ slightly. I will leave it for you to figure
out why and how. Feel free to get back to me if you want to confirm your conclusion.
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if = sign is included with < then <= will be there in solution
like for (x+2)(x-1)(x-7)(x-4) <=0 the solution will be -2 <= x <= 1 or 4<= x <= 7
in case when factors are divided then the numerator will contain = sign
like for (x + 2)(x - 1)/(x -4)(x - 7) < =0
the solution will be -2 <= x <= 1 or 4< x < 7
we cant make 4<=x<=7 as it will make the solution infinite
correct me if i am wrong
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mrinal2100: Kudos to you for excellent thinking!
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this is good thinking , i will use it in solving problems.
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vjsharma25 Re: I nequalities trick [#permalink] 11 Mar 2011, 05:29
fluke Re: I nequalities trick [#permalink] 11 Mar 2011, 05:49
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vjsharma25 wrote:
How you have decided on the first sign of the graph?Why it is -ve if it has three factors and +ve when four factors?
Check out my post above for explanation.
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VeritasPrepKarishma wrote:
vjsharma25 wrote:
I understand the concept but not the starting point of the graph.How you decide about the graph to be a sine or cosine
waveform?Meaning graph starts from the +ve Y-axis for four values and starts from -ve Y-axis for three values.
What if the equation you mentioned is (x+2)(x-1)(x-7)<0,will the last two ranges be excluded or the graph will also change?
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vjsharma25 wrote:
VeritasPrepKarishma wrote:
vjsharma25 wrote:
I understand the concept but not the starting point of the graph.How you decide about the graph to be a sine or cosine
waveform?Meaning graph starts from the +ve Y-axis for four values and starts from -ve Y-axis for three values.
What if the equation you mentioned is (x+2)(x-1)(x-7)<0,will the last two ranges be excluded or the graph will also
change?
I always struggle with this as well!!!
There is a trick Bunuel suggested;
(x+2)(x-1)(x-7) < 0
Here the roots are; -2,1,7
Arrange them in ascending order;
-2,1,7; These are three points where the wave will alternate.
The ranges are;
x<-2
-2<x<1
7 of 9 8/5/2014 4:46 AM
gmat1220 Re: I nequalities trick [#permalink] 11 Mar 2011, 06:37
gmatclubot Re: I nequalities trick [#permalink] 11 Mar 2011, 06:37
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1<x<7
x>7
Take a big value of x; say 1000; you see the inequality will be positive for that.
(1000+2)(1000-1)(1000-7) is +ve. Thus the last range(x>7) is on the positive side.
Graph is +ve after 7.
Between 1 and 7-> -ve
between -2 and 1-> +ve
Before -2 -> -ve
Since the inequality has the less than sign; consider only the -ve side of the graph;
1<x<7 or x<-2 is the complete range of x that satisfies the inequality.
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Once algebra teacher told me - signs alternate between the roots. I said whatever and now I know why Watching this
article is a stroll down the memory lane.
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