TOPIC 1: Absolute Value; Linear Coordinate Systems; Inequalities

THE SET OF REAL NUMBERS consists of the rational numbers (the fractions
𝒂Τ , where a and b are integers) and the irrational numbers (such as 2 =
𝒃
1.4142 . . . and 𝜋 = 3.14159 . . .), which are not ratios of integers. Imaginary
numbers, of the form 𝒙 + 𝒚 −𝟏 , will not be considered. Since no
confusion can result, the word number will always mean real number here.

THE ABSOLUTE VALUE /𝑥/ of a number 𝑥 is defined as follows:

𝑥 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑧𝑒𝑟𝑜 𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒
/x/ = ቊ
−𝑥 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒

For example, /3/ =/−3/= 3; /0/= 0

 In general, if x and y are any two real numbers, then
−/𝑥/≤ 𝑥 ≤/𝑥/
/−𝑥/=/𝑥/ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 /𝑥 − 𝑦/=/𝑦 − 𝑥/
/𝑥/=/𝑦/ 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑥 = ±𝑦
𝑥 /𝑥/
/𝑥 ∗ 𝑦/=/𝑥/∗/𝑦/ / /= 𝑖𝑓 𝑦 ≠ 0
𝑦 /𝑦/
/𝑥 + 𝑦/≤/𝑥/+/𝑦/
(𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦)
A LINEAR COORDINATE SYSTEM is a graphical representation of the real numbers
as the points of a straight line. To each number corresponds one and only one
point, and conversely. To set up a linear coordinate system on a given line: (1)
select any point of the line as the origin (corresponding to 0); (2) choose a positive
direction (indicated by an arrow); and (3) choose a fixed distance as a unit of
measure. If 𝑥 is a positive number, find the point corresponding to 𝑥 by moving a
distance of x units from the origin in the positive direction. If 𝑥 is negative, find the
point corresponding to 𝑥 by moving a distance of /𝑥/ units from the origin in the
negative direction. (See Fig. 1.1)

Figure 1.1
The number assigned to a point on such a line is called the coordinate of that
point. We often will make no distinction between a point and its coordinate.
Thus, we might refer to “the point 3” rather than to “the point with
coordinate 3.” If points P1 and P2 on the line have coordinates x1 and x2 (as in
Fig. 1.2), then

/𝒙𝟏 − 𝒙𝟐 /= 𝑷𝟏 𝑷𝟐 = 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 P1 and P2

As a special case, if x is the coordinate of a point P, then

/𝒙/= 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑃 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛
 FINITE INTERVALS: Let a and b be two points such that a < b. By the open interval
(a , b) we mean the set of all points between a and b, that is, the set of all x such
that a < x < b. By the closed interval [ a, b] we mean the set of all points between
a and b or equal to a or b, that is, the set of all x such that 𝒂 ≤ 𝒙 ≤ 𝒃 (See Fig. 1.3)
The points a and b are called the endpoints of the intervals (a, b) and [ a, b].

Open interval (a,b): a<x<b Closed interval [a,b]: a≤x≤b

Figure 1.3

Figure 1.3

By a half-open interval, we mean an open interval ( a , b ) together with one of its

endpoints. There are two such intervals: [ a , b) is the set of all x such that 𝒂 ≤ 𝒙 < 𝒃,
and ( a , b] is the set of all x such that 𝒂 < 𝒙 ≤ 𝒃.
For any positive number c ,
/x/ ≤ c if and only if - c ≤ x ≤ c
/x/ < c if and only if - c < x < c

INFINITE INTERVALS. Let a be any number. The set of all points

x such that 𝒂 < 𝒙 is denoted by (a ,+∞); the set of all points x
such that 𝒂 ≤ 𝒙 is denoted by [a ,+∞). Similarly, (-∞, b)
denotes the set of all points x such that 𝒙 < 𝒃, and (−∞, b]
denotes the set of all x such that 𝒙 ≤ 𝒃.
INEQUALITIES such as 3x – 2 > 0 and 5 < 2x – 6 ≤ 16 define
intervals on a line, with respect to a given coordinate system.
Example 1: Solve the inequality 3𝑥 − 2 > 0
3𝑥 − 2 > 0
3𝑥 > 2 (adding 2 on both sides)
2
𝑥>3 (dividing by 3)
2
Thus, the corresponding interval is: ( , +∞)
3

Example 2. Solve the inequality 5 < 2𝑥 − 6 ≤ 16

5 < 2𝑥 − 6 ≤ 16
11 < 2𝑥 ≤ 22 (adding 6)
11
< 𝑥 ≤ 11 (dividing 2)
2
11
Thus, the corresponding interval is: ( 2 , 11]
Example 3. Solve the inequality 3 − 2𝑥 < 0
3 − 2𝑥 < 0
−2𝑥 < −3 (subtracting 3)
3
𝑥>2 (dividing by -2)
3
Thus, the corresponding interval is: ( , +∞)
2
*Note, in the last step, that division by a negative number reverses an inequality (as does
multiplication by a negative number).
2𝑥+1
Example 4. Solve the inequality >3
𝑥+3

Any number divided by zero is undefined, hence we must consider the

denominator of the inequality not equal to zero, that is 𝑥 + 3 > 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 +
3 <0
Case 1: 𝑥 + 3 > 0 multiply the inequality by x + 3 to obtain 2x + 1 > 3x + 9, which reduces to
–8 > x. however, since x + 3 > 0, x > –3, thus this case yields no solution.

Case 2: 𝑥 + 3 < 0 multiply the inequality by x + 3 to obtain 2x + 1 < 3x + 9. (Note

that the sign of inequality is reversed since we multiplied by a negative number).
This yields to –8 < x. Since x + 3< 0, we have x < –3. Thus, the only solutions are –8
< x –3 and the corresponding interval is: (–8, –3).
Example 5. 3𝑥 + 2 = 5

The equation will be satisfied if either

3x + 2 = 5 or 3x +2 = -5
Considering each equation separately, we have
7
𝑥=1 and 𝑥 = −3

which are the two solutions to the given equation.

Example 6. 2𝑥 − 1 = 4𝑥 + 3
The equation will be satisfied if either
2𝑥 − 1 = 4𝑥 + 3 𝑜𝑟 2𝑥 − 1 = −(4𝑥 + 3)
Solving the first equation, we have 𝑥 = − 2; solving the second, we
1
get 𝑥 = − 3, thus giving us two solutions to the original equation.
Example 7. 𝑥 + 2 < 5
The given inequality is equivalent to
−5 < 𝑥 + 2 < 5
subtracting 2 to each member of the preceding inequality, we obtain
−7 < 𝑥 < 3
thus, the corresponding interval is: (-7, 3)
Example 8. 3𝑥 + 2 > 5
The given inequality will be satisfied if either
3x + 2 > 5 or 3x + 2 < -5
That is, the given inequality will be satisfied if either of the two
inequalities above is satisfied.
Considering the first inequality, we have
3x + 2 > 5 or equivalently x > 1; (1, +∞)
For the second inequality, we have
7 7
3x + 2 < -5 or equivalently x < − 3; (−∞, − 3)
7
There the final solution to the given inequality are (−∞, − )U(1, +
3
EXERCISES 1: Determine the solution set (interval) that satisfy the following inequalitie
1. 5𝑥 + 2 > 𝑥 − 6 11. 4𝑥 + 3 = 7
2 1
2. 3 𝑥 − 2 < 0 12. 5𝑥 − 3 = 3𝑥 − 5
𝑥+2
3. 13 ≥ 2𝑥 − 3 ≥ 5 13. =5
𝑥−2
4. 2 > −3 − 3𝑥 ≥ −7 14. 𝑥 + 4 < 7
4 2
5. 𝑥 − 3 > 𝑥 − 7 15. 3𝑥 − 4 ≤ 2
6. 𝑥 2 > 4 16. 2𝑥 − 5 > 3
7. 𝑥 − 3 𝑥 + 5 > 0 17. 𝑥 + 4 ≤ 2𝑥 − 6
8. 4𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 − 9 < 0 18. 9 − 2𝑥 ≥ 4𝑥
1 2 𝑥+2
9. 𝑥+1 < 3𝑥−1 19. <4
2𝑥−3
1 4 5 1
10. 3𝑥−7 ≥ 3−2𝑥 20. ≥
2𝑥−1 𝑥−2
Relation
 Relation – pairs of quantities that are related to each
other

 Example: The area A of a circle is related to its radius r

by the formula

A = r . 2
Function

 There are different kinds of relations.

 When a relation matches each item from one set with

exactly one item from a different set the relation is
called a function.
Definition of a Function
 A function is a relationship between two variables
such that each value of the first variable is paired
with exactly one value of the second variable.

 The domain is the set of permitted x values.

 The range is the set of found values of y.

Is it a Function?
 For each x, there is only one value of y.
 Therefore, it IS a function.

Domain, x Range, y
1 -3.6
2 -3.6
3 4.2
4 4.2
5 10.7
6 12.1

52 52
Function?
 Is it a function? State the domain and range.
{(5, 8), (6, 7), (3, -1), (4, 2), (5, 9), (12, -2)

 No. The x-value of 5 is paired with two different y-values.

 Domain: (5, 6, 3, 4, 12)
 Range: (8, 7, -1, 2, 9, -2)
Vertical Line Test
 Used to determine if a graph is a function.
 If a vertical line intersects the graph at more than one point, then the graph
is NOT a function.

NOT a Function
Is it a function? Give the domain and range.

FUNCTION
Domain : − 4,2
Range : − 4,4
Give the Domain and Range.

Domain : x  1 Domain : −2  x  2
Range : y  2 Range : 0  y  3
 Functional Notation
 We have seen an equation written in the form y =
some expression in x.
 Another way of writing this is to use functional
notation.
 For Example, you could write y = x² as f(x) = x².

In addition to f(x), other abbreviated symbols such as g(x)

and P(x) are often used to represent functions of the
independent variable x, especially when the nature of the
function is unknown or unspecified.
Functional Notation: Find the following

f ( x) = 3 x 2 − x + 2 f ( x) = x 2 − x + 2
f ( −3) f (m + 3)
3(− 3) − (− 3) + 2
2 (m + 3) − (m + 3) + 2
2

27 + 3 + 2 (m + 3)(m + 3) − m − 3 + 2
30 + 2
m 2 + 3m + 3m + 9 − m − 3 + 2
32
m 2 + 5m + 8
Example 2. Given that f is the function defined by f(x) = x2 + 3x – 4
find:(a) f(0); (b) f(2); (c) f(h); (d) f(2h); (e) f(2x); (f) f(x + h); and (g) f(x) + f(h)
Solution:
(a) f(0) = 02 + 3*0 – 4 (b) f(2) = 22 + 3*2) - 4
= -4 =6
(c) f(h) = h2 + 3h – 4 (d) f(2h) = (2h)2 + 3(2h) – 4
= 4h2 + 6h – 4
(e) f(2x) = (2x)2 + 3(2x) – 4
= 4x2 + 6x – 4
(f) f(x + h) = (x + h)2 + 3(x + h) – 4
= x2 + 2hx + h2 + 3x + 3h – 4
= x2 + (2h + 3)x + h2 + 3h – 4
(g) f(x) + f(h) = (x2 + 3x – 4) + (h2 + 3h – 4)
= x2 + h2 + 3x + 3h – 8
Exercises 2:
1. Given 𝑔 𝑥 = 2𝑥 − 1, find (a) 𝑔 3 ; (b) 𝑔 −2 ; (c) 𝑔 𝑥 + 1 ;
𝑔 𝑥+ℎ −𝑔 𝑥
(d) 𝑔 𝑥 + ℎ ; (e) ,ℎ≠0
ℎ
2. Given ℎ 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 3, 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑎 ℎ 𝑥 + 1 ; 𝑏 ℎ 𝑥 2 − 3 ;
ℎ 𝑥+ℎ −ℎ 𝑥
𝑐 ℎ 𝑥+ℎ ; 𝑑 ,ℎ ≠ 0
ℎ
𝑓 𝑥+ℎ −𝑓 ℎ
3. Given 𝑓 𝑥 = 4 − 𝑥, find 𝑎 𝑓 04 − 𝑥 ; 𝑏 𝑓 4 − 𝑥 2 ; 𝑐 ℎ
,ℎ ≠ 0
 GRAPH OF A FUNCTION: If f is a function, then the graph of f is the set of all
points (x, y) in the R2 for which (x, y) is an
ordered pair in f. A vertical line intersects the
graph of a function in at most one point.

Example. Determine the domain and range of the given functions and
sketch its graph.
(a) 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 ; (b) 𝑓(𝑥) = −𝑥 2 ; (c) 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 1
Solution:
a) y=x3
Because y is defined for all values of x, the domain of y is the set of all
real numbers: (−∞, +∞) and the range is (−∞, +∞)

x f(x)
-2 -8
-1 -1
0 0
1 1
2 8
 b) f(x) = -x2
x f(x)
-2 -4
-1 -1
0 0
1 -1
2 -4

Because f(x) is defined for all values of x, the domain is the

set of all real numbers: (−∞, +∞) and the resulting
values of f(x) is from −∞ to zero therefor the range
is (−∞, 0]
c) 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥
x g(x)
0 0
1 ±1
2 ± 2
3 ± 3
4 ±2
5 ± 5

Because g(x) is defined only for values of x from zero to +∞,

the domain of g is [0, +∞) and the resulting values of g(x)
is the set of all real numbers therefor the range
is(−∞, +∞)
EXERCISES 3: Sketch the graph of the function and determine
its domain and range.
1. 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 − 1 6.ℎ 𝑥 = 9 − 𝑥 2
2. F 𝑥 = 2𝑥 2 7. 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 − 3
3. 𝐺 𝑥 = 5 − 𝑥 2 8. 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 + 2
𝑥 2 −25
4. 𝐻 𝑥 = 𝑥 − 1 9.𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥+5
𝑥 2 −4𝑥+3
5. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥2 −4 10. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥−1