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Do a sketch if needed
We should also write down what is actually being asked for, so we know where we are
going and when we have arrived!
The best way to learn this is by example, so let's try our first example:
We know that Alex scored 3 more goals than Sam did, so: A = S + 3
And we know that together they scored less than 9 goals: S + A < 9
We are being asked for how many goals Sam might have scored: S
Solve:
Start with:
A = S + 3, so we can
substitute "S + 3" for A:
S+A<9
S + (S + 3) < 9
Simplify:
2S + 3 < 9
2S < 9 3
Simplify:
Divide both sides by 2:
2S < 6
S<3
Sam scored less than 3 goals, which means that Sam could have scored 0, 1 or 2 goals.
Alex scored 3 more goals than Sam did, so Alex could have scored 3, 4, or 5 goals.
Check:
b=8g
We also know there are more girls than boys, so:
g>b
We are being asked for the number of girl pups: g
Solve:
Start with:
g>b
b = 8 g, so we can
substitute "8 g" for b:
g>8g
g+g>8
Simplify:
Divide both sides by 2:
2g > 8
g>4
Check
A speedy example:
Formulas:
1. Cycling
Distance = 25 km
2. Running
Distance = 20 km
Solve:
Start with:
Multiply all terms by 2s:
Simplify:
13 < s
Swap sides:
s > 13
So his average speed running is greater than 13 km/h and his average speed cycling is
greater than 26 km/h
In this example we get to use two inequalities at once:
Example: The velocity v m/s of a ball thrown directly up in the air is given by v
= 20 5t, where t is the time in seconds.
At what times will the velocity be between 5 m/s and 15 m/s?
Letters:
velocity in m/s: v
Formula:
v = 20 5t
We are being asked for the time t when v is between 5 and 15 m/s:
5 < v < 15
5 < 20 5t < 15
Start with:
5 < 20 5t < 15
15 < 5t < 5
3 < t < 1
3 > t > 1
1 < t < 3
So the velocity is between 5 m/s and 15 m/s between 1 second and 3 seconds after.
And a reasonably hard example to finish with:
Example: A rectangular room fits at least 7 tables that each have 1 square
meter of surface area. The perimeter of the room is 16 m.
What could the width and length of the room be?
Make a sketch: we don't know the size of the tables, only their area, they may fit perfectly or
not!
Assign Letters:
2(W + L) = 16
W+L=8
L=8W
We also know the area of a rectangle is the width times the length: Area = W L
And the area must be greater than or equal to 7:
WL7
Let's solve:
Start with:
Substitute L = 8 W:
Expand:
Bring all terms to left hand side:
WL7
W (8 W) 7
8W W2 7
W2 8W + 7 0
This is a quadratic inequality. It can be solved many way, here we will solve it by completing
the square:
Move the number term 7 to the right side of the
inequality:
Complete the square on the left side of the inequality
and balance this by adding the same value to the right
W2 8W 7
W2 8W + 16 7 + 16
(W 4)2 9
3 W 4 3
1W7
So the width must be between 1 m and 7 m (inclusive) and the length is 8width.
Check:
Say W = 0.9 (less than 1), then L = 7.1, and A = 0.9 x 7.1 = 6.39 m 2 (7 won't fit)
Say W = 1.1 (just above 1), then L = 6.9, and A = 1.1 x 6.9 = 7.59 m 2 (7 fit easily)