C3- The Modulus Function

Modulus of x = l x l = the positive value of x.

e.g. l5l = 5, l-5l = 5

Modulus Equations

Example 1: lxl=2 x=  2

Example 2: l x - 3l = 4

x–3=  4

ie x-3=4  x=7

or x–3=-4  x = -1

Example 3: l x- 4l = l 5 – 3xl

x – 4 =  (5 – 3x)

9
x- 4 = 5 – 3x  4x = 9  x =
4
or x - 4 = - (5 - 3x)
x – 4 = - 5 + 3x
-2x =-1
1
x =
2

Example 4: 2 l x2 – 5 l = 4 lx - 1l

2 ( x2 – 5) =  4 ( x – 1)

2 x2 – 10 =  ( 4x – 4)

2 x2 – 4x – 6 = 0

or 2 x2 + 4x – 14 = 0  x = 3, -1, -1  2 2

Exercise: Solve the following

1. lxl=9
2. lx - 6l=2
3. l 7 – 2x l = 9
4. l 3x – 2 l = l 6 – x l
5. 2 l x – 1l = 3 l 2x + 5 l

Xaverian Page 1 of 5 02/11/2021

/conversion/tmp/activity_task_scratch/31244883.doc
 C3- The Modulus Function

Modulus Inequalities

(i) Graphical Method.

The graph of y = l f (x) l is the graph of y = f (x) with the part below the x –
axis reflected in the x- axis.

Example 1 Solve the Inequality:

Ix+2I > I 2 X – I I.

Solution:

1st Sketch y = x + 2, then reflect the part below the x- axis - this gives the
graph of y = I x + 2 I.

X 0 -2

Y 2 0

2nd On same axis sketch y = 2 x – 1 and reflect to get y = I 2 x – I I

Clearly, y = I x + 2 I is greater than ( above ) y =l 2 x – I l between the points

of intersection of y = 2 x – I and y = x + 2
Solving Simultaneously,

2x–I = x+2
2x–I =  (x+2)
2x–1 =x+2
or 2 x – I = - (x + 2)
x =3 or x = - 13
1
so  < x < 3 is the solution.
3

Xaverian Page 2 of 5 02/11/2021

/conversion/tmp/activity_task_scratch/31244883.doc
 C3- The Modulus Function

Example 2 Solve 2x+4 >3

Solution Sketch y = 2 x + 4 and reflect the part where y is negative to

get y = 2 x + 4 . Then draw y = 3.

x 0 -2

y 4 0

Y= 2x+4

Clearly, 2 x + 4 > 3 either side of the points where y = 3 intersects

y= 2x+4 .

Solving simultaneously,

l2 x + 4 l = 3
2 x + 4 = 3, 2 x + 4 = - 3
1 7
x = x=
2 2

7 1
x<- , x>-
2 2

Xaverian Page 3 of 5 02/11/2021

/conversion/tmp/activity_task_scratch/31244883.doc
 C3- The Modulus Function

ii) Algebraic Method

Example 1: Solve the inequality, 2 x - I < x - 2

Solution: Square both sides

22 ( x – 1 ) 2 < ( x – 2 ) 2
4 ( x 2 - 2 x + 1) < x 2 - 4 x + 4
4 x2 - 8 x + 4 < x 2 - 4 x + 4
3 x2 - 4 x < 0

Quadratic inequality  solve 3 x 2 - 4 x = 0 and sketch,

x(3x–4)=0
4
x = 0, x =
3

4
0 < x <
3

Example 2 : x-5 <2

x 2 - I 0 x + 25 < 4
x2 - I 0 x + 2 I < 0

Solve: ( x – 7 ) ( x – 3 )  0 and sketch

3<x<7

Or use x <a  -a<x<a

x > a  x < - a, x > a

So; x-5 <2

- 2 < x – 5 < 2. (+5)
3<x<7

NB: For modulus – modulus inequalities you

must use the squaring method.

NB: For modulus – modulus inequalities you

Xaverian Page 4 of 5method.
must use the squaring 02/11/2021
/conversion/tmp/activity_task_scratch/31244883.doc
 C3- The Modulus Function

Exercise Solve the following inequalities:

i) x <4
ii) x+3 <5
iii) x-1 < x+2
iv) 2x+1 > x-1

2 (a) Sketch y = x2 - 4 (b) Solve x2 - 4 >5

2
3 (a) On the same axis sketch y = 2 x + 1 and y = .
x

(b) How many solutions are there to the equation

2
2x+1 = ?
x

Xaverian Page 5 of 5 02/11/2021

/conversion/tmp/activity_task_scratch/31244883.doc