What are the possible solutions for the inequality |2x-1|+|x+2|\geq 4x?

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 · 1K views
thereddevils
Messages
436
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


[tex]|2x-1|+|x+2|\geq 4x[/tex]


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



For x<-2 , [tex]-(2x-1)-(x+2)\geq 4x[/tex]

[tex]x\leq -\frac{1}{7}[/tex]

For [tex]x\geq \frac{1}{2}[/tex]

[tex]2x-1+x+2\geq 4x[/tex]

[tex]x\leq 1[/tex]

For [tex]-2 \leq x < \frac{1}{2}[/tex] ,

[tex]-(2x-1)+x+2\geq 4x[/tex]

[tex]x\leq \frac{3}{5}[/tex]

after combining , the solution would be [tex]x\leq -\frac{1}{7}[/tex]

AM i correct ? but the answer given is [tex]x\leq 1[/tex]
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hi thereddevils! :wink:

Your three answers are correct, but you're not putting them together correctly.

For example, you have:

if x ≤ -2, it's true for x ≤ -1/7.

so it's true for all x ≤ -2.

ok, now try the others. :smile:
 


tiny-tim said:
Hi thereddevils! :wink:

Your three answers are correct, but you're not putting them together correctly.

For example, you have:

if x ≤ -2, it's true for x ≤ -1/7.

so it's true for all x ≤ -2.

ok, now try the others. :smile:

thanks tiny , yeah , i am confused with the last part , what i did is to put x<= -1/7 , x<=1 , x<= 3/5 on the number line and take the intersection which is what i got .

so say for x>= 1/2 , x can be 4 , x<=1 , so 4<=1 ?? this is not true

i am sorry , i still do not understand the last part .
 
There are three possibilities:

x ≤ -2, -2 ≤ x ≤ 1/2, 1/2 ≤ x.

call them A B and C.

So A or B or C.

If A, the equation is true if (say) a.

If B, the equation is true if (say) b.

If C, the equation is true if (say) c.

So the equation is true if (A and a) or (B and b) or (C and c). :wink: