# Math Help - Inequality help

1. ## Inequality help

Question:

x >= 6/(x-1)

I tried to solve it, but I keep getting fractional answers (which I know are incorrect). If someone could provide a worked solution, that'd be great. Cheers.

2. Originally Posted by Glitch
Question:

x >= 6/(x-1)

I tried to solve it, but I keep getting fractional answers (which I know are incorrect). If someone could provide a worked solution, that'd be great. Cheers.
Hi Glitch,

Here is one way. We have

EDIT: The following contains errors. Please see other posts below. I grayed everything out, except that the LaTeX still renders in black.

$x \ge \frac{6}{x-1}$

$x(x-1) \ge 6$

We can solve by finding out where

$x(x-1) = 6$

So we find that

$x^2-x-6 = 0$

$(x-3)(x+2) = 0$

So we have three intervals, $(-\infty,-2), (-2,3), (3,\infty)$ and we can try out values from each interval.

$x = 0 \Rightarrow x(x-1) = 0 \not \ge 6$ so the interval $(-2,3)$ does not satisfy the inequality.

$x = -3 \Rightarrow -3(-3-1) = 12 \ge 6$ so $(-\infty,-2)$ satisfies the inequality.

$x = 4 \Rightarrow 4(4-1) = 12 \ge 6$ so $(3, \infty)$ satisfies the inequality.

So the answer is: $x \le -2$ OR $x \ge 3$.

3. How did you get $x(x-1) \ge 6$ ?

Don't we have to square the denominator to ensure that it's a positive number?

4. Originally Posted by Glitch
How did you get $x(x-1) \ge 6$ ?

Don't we have to square the denominator to ensure that it's a positive number?
You're right! I did something illegal, which led to a wrong answer.

I would rectify it by saying off the bat that we can solve

$x \ge \frac{6}{x-1}$

by finding where

$x = \frac{6}{x-1}$

and then testing the intervals as before.

EDIT: Disregard the grayed out part, which happens to contain more than one silly error. See below post.

So the first two intervals fail and only the third interval passes, giving the answer: $x \ge 3$.

5. Ah, I'm sorry to have to post again due to carelessness. Maybe I shouldn't be doing this at 1:43 AM.

We have to consider x = 1 as a critical point too. So we have the four intervals $(-\infty,-2), (-2,1), (1,3), (3,\infty)$

The second and fourth intervals pass, leading to the answer: $-2 \le x < 1$ OR $x \ge 3$.

Should be mistake-free now.. finally..

6. Originally Posted by Glitch
Question:

x >= 6/(x-1)

I tried to solve it, but I keep getting fractional answers (which I know are incorrect). If someone could provide a worked solution, that'd be great. Cheers.
Here comes a slightly different approach:

$x \geq \frac6{x-1}~\implies~x - \frac6{x-1}\geq 0~\implies~\frac{x^2-x-6}{x-1}\geq 0$

A quotient is positive (or zero) that means greater than zero (or zero) if the signs of the numerator and the denominator are equal:

$x^2-x-6\geq 0 \wedge x-1 > 0~\vee~x^2-x-6\leq 0 \wedge x-1 < 0$

After moving some stuff around this "chain" of inequalities simplifies to:

$x \geq 3 ~\vee~ -2\leq x < 1$

7. Originally Posted by undefined
We have to consider x = 1 as a critical point too. So we have the four intervals $(-\infty,-2), (-2,1), (1,3), (3,\infty)$
Sorry, why do we have to consider x = 1?

8. Originally Posted by Glitch
Sorry, why do we have to consider x = 1?
Because x-1 appears in the denominator on the right hand side, and so it is undefined when x = 1.

9. Ahh right. Thanks!

10. By the way, if you're allowed to use a graphing calculator, then you might find you have a better understanding of this problem by looking at the graphs of $y=x$ and $y=\frac{6}{x-1}$ and seeing where the first graph is above or intersects with the second graph.

11. Will do. I don't have a graphing calculator, but Wolfram|Alpha&mdash;Computational Knowledge Engine works just as well.

12. @undefined the earboth's method should be use in solving this kind of inequalities.

Your method is not good at all, because it is not correct.

For example.
NOT correct.
(x-1)/x>1
(x-1)>x

CORRECT:
(x-1)/x -1 >0
(x-1-x)/x >0
-1/x >0
-1<0
so x<0

13. Originally Posted by p0oint
@undefined the earboth's method should be use in solving this kind of inequalities.

Your method is not good at all, because it is not correct.

For example.
NOT correct.
(x-1)/x>1
(x-1)>x

CORRECT:
(x-1)/x -1 >0
(x-1-x)/x >0
-1/x >0
-1<0
so x<0
You seem not to have read the entire thread. I will gray out the first post to avoid further confusion.

14. I have another question,

$|(x-1)/(x+1)| < 1$

I can't seem to simplify it to the correct answer. Am I allowed to multiply both sides by the denominator since it's an absolute number?

15. Originally Posted by Glitch
I have another question,

$|(x-1)/(x+1)| < 1$

I can't seem to simplify it to the correct answer. Am I allowed to multiply both sides by the denominator since it's an absolute number?
It would be best to post this question as a new thread.

I would break down into two cases

$\left(\frac{x-1}{x+1}\ge0 \wedge \frac{x-1}{x+1}<1\right) \vee \left(\frac{x-1}{x+1}\le0 \wedge \frac{x-1}{x+1}>1\right)$

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