1.

2 Review Questions and Concepts

1.2.1 Inequalities
We indicate a region of the real number line R using interval notation. Use parentheses around
endpoints when an inequality is strict (< or >) and when dealing with +∞ and −∞, and use
brackets around endpoints that are included in an inequality (≤ or ≥). Rewrite the following re-
gions of R in interval notation.

(a.) −x + 3 ≤ 2x + 9

(b.) −2 ≤ 3x + 1 ≤ 7

(c.) x − 3 > 2 or x + 3 < −1

(d.) 2x2 > 50

1.2.2 Absolute Value

We refer to the absolute value of a real number C as the distance on the number line from C to
0. Likewise, the absolute value of the equation |x − C| = 3 can be thought of as the set of all real
numbers x such that the distance from x to C is 3.
Definition. Put in more abstract terms, the absolute value of an expression u(x) written in
terms of x is given by �
u(x) if u(x) ≥ 0
|u(x)| = .
−u(x) if u(x) < 0

Rewrite the following without the absolute value, if possible.

(a.) |−5 + 7| +|−2|

� �
� 5−12 �
(b.) � −4−3 �

(c.) |2π − 6| − π (where π ≈ 3.14)

(d.) |6x − 3| − 9 = 0

1.2.3 Exponent Rules and Radicals

Recall the following rules for exponents and radicals.

1.) xa · xb = xa+b

2.) (xa )b = xab

xa 1
3.) xb
= xa−b (if a = 0, then xa = 1, and we have xb
= x−b )

4.) (cx)a = ca · xa
√
5.) xa/b = b xa
√ √ √
6.) b xy = b x · b y

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Using the rules of exponents and radicals, completely simplify the following expressions.
� 9 �3/2
(a.) 4

5b
(b.) 254

(c.) (3 · 4)−2

(d.) (−8)5/3
(3 · 2−3 )(4 · 35 )
(e.)
2 · 93
√
3√3 54
(f.) 3
18

1.2.4 Rational Expressions

Recall that a rational expression is one of the form fg(x)

(x)
, where f (x) and g(x) are functions
such that g(x) �= 0 for some x in its domain. Generally, if you have ab cb
and b and c are both
nonzero, we may “cancel” the b in the numerator and the denominator so that ab cb
= ac . Of course,
we should take precaution to note any restrictions on the “allowable” values of x for an expres-
1
sion. For instance, observe that x = 3 is not an “allowable” value of x for the expression x−3 . We
remark therefore that when canceling terms in an expression, we may inadvertently change the
“allowable” values of x. Let us now simplify the following rational expressions.
4(x2 +y)3
(a.) x2 +y

a6 b−5
(b.) (a3 b−2 )−3
√
4
16x5 yz
(c.) √
4 5
(x, y, z are all positive)
81xyz

(d.) (2x3 )(−3x−2 )( 16 x−1/2 )

� 2 �−2 � 3xy3 �3
(e.) 3xy
4x3 y 2x2
� �
(f.) 3 81x5 y 10 · 3 9xy 2

1.2.5 Factoring
Factoring can be considered the inverse operation of distribution over multiplication.

Distributive Law. Given real numbers a, b, c, and d, we have that

(1.) a(b + c) = ab + bc and (a + b)c = ac + bc.

(2.) (a + b)(c + d) = ac + ad + bc + bd.

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Part two of the distributive law is also known as the first-outer-inner-last (FOIL) method. Using
the distributive law, we derive four formulas that are used repeatedly.
a2 − b2 = (a − b)(a + b) (difference of squares)
a3 − b3 = (a − b)(a2 + ab + b2 ) (difference of cubes)
a3 + b3 = (a + b)(a2 − ab + b2 ) (sum of cubes)
� � � � � � � �
n n n 0 n n−1 1 n 1 n−1 n 0 n
(a + b) = a b + a b + ··· + ab + ab (Binomial Theorem)
0 1 n−1 n
We note that the binomial coefficients in the Binomial Theorem are given by Pascal’s Triangle.
We have as a special case of the Binomial Theorem (n = 2) the identity (a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2 .
Completely factor the following polynomials using the distributive law.
(a.) −2π 2 r3 + 100πr2
(b.) 2v 3 w + 2vw3 − 2u2 vw
(c.) 16 − x2 y 4
(d.) 12t3 − 6t2 − 18t

1.2.6 Solving Equations by Factoring: the Zero Factor Property

Zero Factor Property. Given real numbers a and b, if ab = 0, then either a = 0 or b = 0.
Put into practice, the zero factor property allows us to solve real number equations of the form
(ax − b)(cx − d) = 0 by concluding that either ax − b = 0 so that x = ab or cx − d = 0 so
that x = dc . Given an equation f (x) = C for some polynomial f (x) and some real number C, we
can rearrange the terms to use the zero factor property. Use the zero factor property to solve the
following polynomial equations.
(a.) 8x2 + 2x − 3 = 0
(b.) −6x2 − 10x + 4 = 0
(c.) −x3 − 2x2 + 3x = 0
(d.) 2x4 + x2 = 1

1.2.7 Absolute Value Inequalities

Consider some function f (x). Given an inequality f (x) ≥ C (or f (x) ≤ C), note that the equa-
tion f (x) = C partitions the real number line. We may solve the inequality by noting which of
regions in the partition satisfy the desired inequality.
Testing Inequalities. Consider the inequality f (x) = 2x − 1 < 3. We first find the partition of
the real line given by this equation by solving the f (x) = 2x − 1 = 3 in terms of x. We note that
x = 2 is the desired value of x, from which we conclude that f (x) partitions the real number line
into (−∞, 2) ∪ (2, ∞). We now test a value from each set, checking if it satisfies the inequality.
Choose x = 0 so that f (0) = 2 · 0 − 1 = −1 < 3 yields a true statement. We conclude that any
value of x such that x < 2 satisfies the inequality since 0 < 2. Consider choosing a number from
the region (2, ∞) – say we choose 5. We have that f (5) = 2 · 5 − 1 = 9 < 3, which is false. We
conclude that the inequality is satisfied by the region (−∞, 2) of the real line.

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Solve the following inequalities. Write your solutions in interval notation.

(a.) 2x2 + 3x − 2 ≤ 0
1
(b.) x+2
>2

(c.) |2x − 3| < 5

� �
� �
(d.) � x+1
x−1 �
=5

1.2.8 Quadratic Formula

Quadratic Formula. Given a general second degree polynomial p(x) = ax2 + bx + c for some
real numbers a �= 0, b, and c, the values of x that solve the equation p(x) = 0 are given by
√
−b ± b2 − 4ac
x= .
2a
Proof. Complete the square on p(x) = 0.
Use the quadratic formula directly to solve the following polynomial equations.

(a.) x2 − 2x − 5 = 0

(b.) 2x2 + 8x + 7 = 0

1.2.9 Miscellaneous Topics in Rational Expressions

Consider real numbers a, b, and c �= 0. We have that
a b a+b
+ = .
c c c
Furthermore, given another real number d �= 0, we have that
a b ad + bc
+ = .
c d cd
We note that these techniques also work when adding rational expressions involving functions.
We need only think about a, b, c, and d as functions. Simplify the following rational expressions.
(t+6)(60)−(60t+180)
(a.) (t+6)2

6x 1
(b.) 2(3x2 +2)
+ 4(x+2)
√
x−1
(c.) Rationalize the numerator of x−1
.
√
x−1
(d.) Rationalize the denominator of √ .
2 x

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1.2.10 Lines
Recall that there are two basic forms for the equation of a line and that these forms are equiv-
alent. Let f (x) be a line with slope m ∈ R and y-intercept b ∈ R. We say that the slope-
intercept form of f (x) is given by f (x) = mx + b. Consider a point P = (x1 , y1 ) in R2 , i.e.,
such that x1 and y1 are all real numbers. We say that the point-slope form of f (x) is given by
y − y1 = m(x − x1 ), where we have interchanged f (x) and y since we have that y = f (x).
(a.) Give the slope-intercept form of the line f (x) with slope m = 5 and y-intercept −1.
(b.) Give the slope-intercept form of the line f (x) that passes through (1, 0) and (3, 4).
(c.) Give the point-slope form of the line with slope m = −2 that passes through (−1, −3).
(d.) Give the point-slope form of the line that passes through (2, 4) and (5, 5).

2 Functions, Limits, and the Derivative

2.1 Functions and Their Graphs
2.1.1 Functions
Definition. We say that a function f : A → B is a rule that assigns to each element in a set A
one and only one element of a set B.
We call the set A the domain of the function. We say that the range of the function is the set
of all values f (x) such that x ∈ A. Observe that the range of a function is a subset of B. We note
the importance of the phrase “one and only one” in the definition of a function.
• Consider working in a grocery store and being responsible for pricing items. Each item
should possess one and only one price. Otherwise, when the cashier rings up the item, she
will not know which price to use. Likewise, a function should assign to each element x in A
one and only one value f (x) in B. We say that a function must be “well-defined.”
• Recall that the equation y 2 + x2 = 1 describes
√ a circle of radius 1 that is centered about the
origin; however, solving for y give y = ± 1 − x2 . Observe that every value except x = ±1
gives two possible outputs under y = f (x), hence y 2 + x2 = 1 is not a function in y.
We will represent a function f of only one variable x as f (x), hence to evaluate the function at a
particular value C in its domain, we will write find the value of f (C).
Evaluating Functions. Let f (x) = x2 + 3. Evaluate f (1), f (a), and f (a + h).
Packaging. Consider constructing an open box from a rectangular piece of cardboard 16 inches
long and 10 inches wide by cutting away identical squares from each corner and folding up the
resulting flaps. Find an expression that gives the volume V of the box as a function of x, i.e., find
the function V (x). What is the domain of the function V (x)?
Solution. Let �(x), w(x), and h(x) represent the respective length, width, and height of the box.
Observe that we have V (x) = �(x) · w(x) · h(x) = (16 − 2x)(10 − 2x)x. Each of the �(x), w(x),
and h(x) must be positive, hence we must simultaneously satisfy the inequalities 0 < x < 8,
0 < x < 5, and x > 0. Combining these, we find that DV = {x : 0 < x < 5} = (0, 5). �

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