Doubt in an inequality problem

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
3 replies · 2K views
Thiru07
Messages
41
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Given : (y+2)(y-3) <= 0

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


Now, I have y-3 <= 0 or y+2 <= 0
Hence, y <= 3 or y <= -2
But how
-2 <= y <= 3
is correct?
I think
-2 <= y <= 3
is wrong because y <= -2.
Can someone please clarify?
 
on Phys.org
Thiru07 said:

Homework Statement


Given : (y+2)(y-3) <= 0

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


Now, I have y-3 <= 0 or y+2 <= 0
Hence, y <= 3 or y <= -2
But how is correct?
I think is wrong because y <= -2.
Can someone please clarify?

You could draw a graph of ##(y+2)(y-3)## to see what's happening.

What happens if both ##y+2 < 0## and ##y-3 < 0##?
 
PeroK said:
You could draw a graph of ##(y+2)(y-3)## to see what's happening.

What happens if both ##y+2 < 0## and ##y-3 < 0##?
In that case , we will keep y < -2 and ignore y < 3.
I think I got it. We have to ignore y+2 <= 0 and y-3 >=0 as
y <= -2 and y >= 3
is not possible and keep
y >= -2 and y <= 3

Thanks PeroK :)
 

Attachments

  • Inequality.JPG
    Inequality.JPG
    6.5 KB · Views: 417
Thiru07 said:
Given : (y+2)(y-3) <= 0

Now, I have y-3 <= 0 or y+2 <= 0
No, the above doesn't follow from the inequality. I think you might already have solved this inequality, but showing where you went wrong is worthwhile.
For the product of two expressions to be negative, one of them has to be negative, and the other has to be positive. Since this can happen in either of two ways, you need to examine two different cases.
Thiru07 said:
Hence, y <= 3 or y <= -2