How to solve Polynomial Inequalities
A polynomial function f(x) which takes of any of these forms f(x)>0 , f(x) ≥0 , f(x)<0, f(x)≤0 is called polynomial inequality.
To solve polynomial inequalities , following procedure is used.
- Find polynomial function in factored form if not given already in factored form. Then find its zeros.
- Find intervals using these zeros on a number line.
- Check each interval by substituting any point from that interval into the factored form of polynomial function.
- Make a sign chart which will help you to decide the domain for final answer.
Example1: Determine the x values that cause the polynomial function to be (a) zero, (b) positive, and (c) negative.
f(x)=(x+2)(x+1)(x-5)
Solution:
Step 1) As the given polynomial function already in factored form so we just need to find the zeros.
(x+2)(x+1)(x-5) = 0
x+2 =0 , x+1 =0 , x-5 =0
Zeros are : x = -2,-1,5
Step 2) Using these zeros on a number line, we get the number line divided into following intervals.
(- ∞,-2) , (-2,-1), (-1,5) ,(5,∞)
Step 3) Next we check these intervals by substituting any point from each interval into factored form of polynomial function. Remember not to use end points of these intervals and we are concerned only with signs not the exact values.
For interval (-∞,-2) , lets substitute x= -3
f(-3) = (-3+2)(-3+1)(-3-5)
= (-)(-)(-) < 0 (Negative)
For interval (-2,-1), lets substitute x = -1.5
f(-1.5) = (-1.5+2)((-1.5+1)(-1.5-5)
= (+)(-)(-) > 0 (positive)
For interval (-1,5) , lets substitute x=0
f(0) = (0+2)(0+1)(0-5)
= (+)(+)(-) < 0 (Negative)
For interval (5, ) , lets assume x=6
f(6) = (6+2)(6+1)(6-5)
= (+)(+)(+) > 0 (Positive)
Now we can write answer for each part .
- Zeros x= -2,-1,5
- Positive (-2,-1) U (5,∞ )
- Negative (-∞ ,-2) U (-1,5)
This process was explained in detailed steps given above. Once we understand the process ,we don’t need to show all this work and all this work can be squeezed into a sign chart.
Intervals |
(x+2)(x+1)(x-5) |
Result |
|
(-∞,-2) |
(-)(-)(-) |
(-) |
< 0 |
(-2,-1) |
(+)(-)(-) |
(+) |
> 0 |
(-1,5) |
(+)(+)(-) |
(-) |
< 0 |
(5,∞ ) |
(+)(+)(+) |
(+) |
> 0 |
Example2. Complete the factoring if needed, and solve the polynomial inequality using a sign chart.
Solution:
step1) First we assume all possible rational zeros using Rational root theorem.
±1, ±2, ±3, ±6, ±1/2, ±3/2
Step2 ) We can check these zeros one by one using synthetic division. After checking several zeros we got that-2 gives 0 remainder. So we got first zero as x=-2 .
Step 3) using the terms in the bottom line we get the quotient polynomial as which can be factored further to get remaining two zeros. Since this is quadratic polynomial so we can try factoring .
2x(x-3)-1(x-3)
(x-3)(2x-1)
Using zero product rule, we get the zeros as
x-3=0 , 2x-1 =0
x = 3 , x = 1/2
We get the complete factored form as:
(x+2)(x-3)(2x-1) ≥ 0
Step 4) Now we use these three zeros to find intervals on number line.
(-∞, -2) , (-2, 1/2 ), (1/2 ,3) ,(3, ∞ )
Step 5) Next we check each interval by substituting any point from each interval into factored form of original equation and make a sign chart. For answer we accept only those intervals which have positive results because this polynomial inequality has ≥ sign.
Intervals |
(x+2)(x-3)(2x-1) |
Result |
|
(-∞ ,-2) |
(-)(-)(-) |
(-) |
Not accepted |
(-2, 1/2 ) |
(+)(-)(-) |
(+) |
Accepted |
(1/2 ,3) |
(+)(-)(+) |
(-) |
Not accepted |
(3, ∞ ) |
(+)(+)(+) |
(+) |
Accepted |
Step 6) The intervals having positive results are accepted and forms the final answer but we need to use closed intervals because of sign.
So answer is : [-2, ½ ] U [3,∞ )
Example3. Solve the following inequalities for the given polynomial functions.
a) f(x)>0 b) f(x)≥ 0 c) f(x)<0 d) f(x) ≤ 0
1)
Solution: Using zero product rule, we get its solution as non real numbers. Also when we look at this function, we see that both factors have positive terms ( is always a positive term).
This means this function will always be positive for all real values of x. So the answer for part a and part b will be all real numbers which is represented in interval forms as (-∞,∞ )
This function will never be negative. So answers for different parts can be written as,
- (-∞,∞ )
- (-∞,∞ )
- No solution
- No solution
2)
Rewriting this function in simplified form by taking out negative sign,
Here both factors have positive terms so both factors are positive but negative sign outside, make the result negative. That means this function will always remain negative for all real values of x (-∞,∞ ). So answers for different parts can be written as,
- No solution
- No solution
- (-∞,∞ )
- (-∞,∞ )
Example 4. Consider the collection of all rectangles that have lengths 2 in. less than twice their widths. Find the possible widths (in inches) of these rectangles if their perimeters are less than 200 in.
Solution:
Lets assume width of rectangle = x
Then length of rectangle = 2x-2
Given that , Perimeter < 200
2( length+ width) < 200
2( 2x-2 +x ) < 200
3x -2 < 100
3x < 102
x < 34
As length and width always positive integers(>0) so,
x > 0 and 2x-2 >0
2x >2 => x > 1
So the possible widths of rectangles are given as,
1 < x < 34 (inches)
Practice problems:
1) Determine the x values that cause the polynomial function to be (a) zero, (b) positive, and (c) negative.
2) Complete the factoring if needed, and solve the polynomial inequality using a sign chart.
3) Solve the following inequalities for the given polynomial functions.
a) f(x)>0 b) f(x)≥ 0 c) f(x)<0 d) f(x)≤ 0
4)The Grovenor Candy Co. finds that the cost of making a certain candy bar is $0.13 per bar. Fixed costs amount to $2000 per week. If each bar sells for $0.35, find the minimum number of candy bars that will earn the company a profit.
Answers:
1) a. x=-7,-4,6 b. (-∞ ,-7)U(-4,6)U(6,∞ ) c) (-7,-4)
2) (-1, 3/2 ) U (2,∞ )
3) a.(-∞, 4/3 )U(4/3 ,∞ ) b. (-∞,∞ ) c) No solution d) x=4/3
4) Minimum 9091 candies