How to solve this inequality?

nightking · Mar 25, 2012

How can I solve this inequality?

(a-x+1)(a-x+2) ≤ a

where a is a constant with unknown value.

Thanks in advance.

chiro · Mar 25, 2012

Hey nightking and welcome to the forums.

You need to expand out the left hand side and then put on side completely in terms of x.

The rules for inequalities are that you can't divide any side by zero (you also have to make sure any variables you have are not zero either if you want to divide), if you divide by a negative number you flip the inequality sign, if you subtract or add a term the sign doesn't change.

AlephZero · Mar 25, 2012

If you want to find x in terms of a, I would start with
((a - x + 3/2) - 1/2)((a - x + 3/2) + 1/2) ≤ a

The left hand side is then the difference of two squares.....

nightking · Mar 25, 2012

AlephZero said: ↑

If you want to find x in terms of a, I would start with
((a - x + 3/2) - 1/2)((a - x + 3/2) + 1/2) ≤ a

The left hand side is then the difference of two squares.....

Brilliant. Thanks!

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How to solve this inequality?

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