Express the set as a union of intervals:

  • Context: MHB 
  • Thread starter Thread starter WannaBe
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    intervals Set Union
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around expressing the set defined by the inequality {(x+3)(7-x)((x-2)^2) > 0} as a union of intervals. Participants explore methods for solving the inequality and converting the set-builder notation into interval notation, with a focus on the reasoning behind the steps involved.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Homework-related, Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about the methods others have tried to solve the inequality.
  • One participant suggests that the solution might be expressed as (-3, 2) U (7, ∞) but questions its correctness.
  • Another participant emphasizes the condition for the product to be positive, stating that both factors must be either positive or negative.
  • A later reply notes that values greater than 7 do not satisfy the inequality.
  • One participant provides a detailed walkthrough of a similar problem, outlining steps such as marking roots on a number line, determining the nature of the inequality, and testing intervals to find where the product is positive.
  • The example provided includes a solution in interval notation as (-4, 1) U (12, ∞), illustrating a method for approaching the problem.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correctness of the proposed solution or the steps to take next. Multiple approaches and interpretations of the inequality remain present in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some steps in the reasoning process are not fully resolved, and there are dependencies on the interpretation of the inequality and the nature of the roots involved.

WannaBe
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
Express the set {X E R: (x+3) (7-x) ((x-2)^2) > 0} as a union of intervals
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
What have you tried ? how to solve that inequality ?
 
ZaidAlyafey said:
What have you tried ? how to solve that inequality ?

(x+3) (7-x) ((x-2)^2) > 0}

x > -3 , x < 7 , x > 2

(-3,2)U(7,oo)

Is it correct?
 
Remember that

$$ab>0 \,\,\, \text{iff }\,\,\,\, a>0,b>0 \,\,\, \text{or}\,\,\, a<0,b<0$$
 
ZaidAlyafey said:
Remember that

$$ab>0 \,\,\, \text{iff }\,\,\,\, a>0,b>0 \,\,\, \text{or}\,\,\, a<0,b<0$$

So, what's the next step?
 
Note that if you use numbers greater than 7 the inequality will not hold.
 
I have moved this topic. Although this question does involve sets, rewriting a solution set for an inequality given in set-builder notation to interval notation is a topic typically studied by students of "elementary" algebra.

I don't want to trample on the help being given by ZaidAlyafey, so I will walk you through a similar problem, the way I was taught.

Suppose we are given the set:

$$\{x|(x+4)(x-1)(x-5)^2(x-12)^3>0\}$$

Step 1: Draw a real number line and mark the roots of the polynomial expression:

View attachment 1434

Step 2: Consider whether the inequality is weak or strict. If weak, put solid dots at the roots to show they are part of the solution set (giving closed intervals), and if strict put hollow dots to indicate they are not part of the solution (giving open intervals). For this problem, we have a strict inequality so we will put hollow dots at the roots:

View attachment 1435

Step 3: Choose test values from within each interval into which the roots have divided the real number line. I will choose some and put them in red, however the choice of values is up to the person working the problem, as long as they are within the intervals:

View attachment 1436

Step 4: Put each test value into each factor of the polynomial, and record the resulting signs of each factor, and the consider what the sign the resulting product must be. An even number of negatives gives a positive while an odd number of negatives gives a negative. Take care to make sure the factors with exponents are counted the correct number of times:

View attachment 1437

As you become more proficient at this step, you will see that when a root has an odd multiplicity, the sign of the polynomial will change across the root, and when the root has an even multiplicity it will not. The multiplicity of a root refers to how many times it occurs, as indicated by its exponent. Notice the root $x=5$ is of multiplicity 2, and the sign of the polynomial did not change, whereas the root $x=12$ is of multiplicity 3 and the sign did change, as it did also for the other roots of multiplicity 1. Using this information, it is then really only necessary to check one interval, and then apply the information regarding the multiplicity of each root accordingly.

Step 5: Since we are interested in those intervals where the polynomial is positive, we then shade those intervals which resulted in a positive sign:

View attachment 1438

Step 6: Write the solution in interval notation:

$$(-4,1)\,\cup\,(12,\infty)$$
 

Attachments

  • wannabe1.jpg
    wannabe1.jpg
    2.5 KB · Views: 129
  • wannabe2.jpg
    wannabe2.jpg
    2.9 KB · Views: 132
  • wannabe3.jpg
    wannabe3.jpg
    3.6 KB · Views: 118
  • wannabe4.jpg
    wannabe4.jpg
    6.8 KB · Views: 124
  • wannabe5.jpg
    wannabe5.jpg
    7 KB · Views: 116

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
8
Views
6K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
647