Equations and Inequalities

Axioms of Equality
Let a, b and c be real numbers: Reflexive Property a=a Symmetric Property If a=b then b=a Transitive Property If a=b and b=c then a=c Addition Property If a=b then a+c=b+c Multiplication Property If a=b then ac=bc

Linear Equations in one variable

Linear equation an equation in the variable x that can be expressed in the form ax+b=0 where a and b are fixed real numbers with a0

Quadratic Equations in one variable

A quadratic equation in the variable x is an equation that can be expressed in the form ax2+bx+c=0 where a, b, and c are real numbers with a0 Three ways of solving quadratic equations
Theorem 2 (zero product property) If a,b R with ab=0, then a=0 or b=0 Completing the squares by quadratic formula b b 2 4ac x= 2a

Theorem 2
(zero product property) If a, b, R with ab=0 then a=0 or b=0.

Equations and Inequalities

Axioms of Order
Let a, b R, exactly one of the following is true
a>b, a=b, b>a (Trichotomy Property) Addition Property For a, b, c R: If a>b then a+c>b+c Multiplicative Property For a, b, c R, c>0: If a>b then ac>bc Transitive Property For a, b, c R: If a>b and b>c then a>c

Equations and Inequalities

Definition 5. Let a, b R. We write a<b (a is less than b) if b>a Definition 6. Let a, b R. We write a>b if either a>b or a=b. We write a<b if either a<b or a=b.

Equations and Inequalities

Theorem 3. Let a,b,c R
If a>b and c<0 then ac<bc For any real number a, a2>0 If a>b and c>d then a+c>b+d If a>b>0 and c>d>0 then ac>bd (a) If ab>0 then either a>0 and b>0 or a<0 and b <0 (b) If ab<0 then either a>0 and b<0 or a<0 and b>0 If ab>0 then if a>b then 1/a<1/b if a<b then 1/a>1/b

Symbols for inequalities

Set builder form Interval notation Graphical notation

Symbols for inequalities

{x|a<x<b} {x|a<x<b} {x|a<x<b} {x|x>-1} {{x|x<1}

Linear Inequalities
An inequality involving the variable x which can be written in the form ax+b<c (where < can also be < or > or >) for some constants a,b,c R

Quadratic Inequalities
An inequality involving the variable x which can be written in the form ax2+bx+c<0 (where < can also be < or > or >) for some constants a,b,c R

Absolute Values
Definition 7 The absolute value of a real number x is defined as

x if x 0 x = - x if x < 0
Similarly

x= x
x if x 0 x = - x if x < 0
2

Theorems involving absolute values

Theorem 4. Let a,b R
|ab|=|a||b|

a a = , if b 0 b b

Theorem 5. For any a R -|a|<a<|a|

Theorems involving absolute values

Theorem 6. Let b>0
|x|<b |x|>b |x|<b |x|>b iff iff iff iff b<x<b x<-b or x>b b<x<b x<-b or x>b