1.

Review

1.1 Numbers, Inequalities, and Absolute Values

Learning Objectives

• Understand the components that make up the real number system and how they are represented on
a number line.
• Know the set theory terminology and interval notation (set theoretic description and geometric
description).
• Know how to solve various inequalities.
• Understand the definition of absolute value, its properties and how to solve inequalities involving
absolute values.
• Know the triangle inequality and its proof.

1.1.1 The Real Number System

INTEGERS: . . . , 3, 2, 1, 0, 1, 2, 3 . . .
a
RATIONAL NUMBERS: Any number that can be expressed as r = , where a and b are integers and
b
1
b 6= 0. e.g. , 0.75, 0.3
2
FACT: Any real number with a terminating or repeating decimal is a rational number.

a
⌅ Example 1.1 Express 0.16 in the form , where a and b are integers.
b
 2 Chapter 1. Review
a
IRRATIONAL NUMBERS: Any number that cannot be expressed as r = , where a and b are integers.
b
The decimal expansion is infinite and nonrepeating.
p
2 = 1.414213562373095 . . . , p = 3.141592653589793 . . .

Number line:

6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Real Numbers are ordered: We say a is less than b and write a < b if b a > 0 (Equivalently, b > a). The
symbol a  b means a < b or a = b.

1.1.2 Set Theory

Definition 1.1.1 — Set. A set is a well-defined collection of objects called elements.

Z denotes the set of all integers

Q denotes the set of all rationals
R denotes the set of all real numbers

Notation 1.1. We write a 2 S when a is an element of S and a 2

/ S when a is not an element of S
p
For example, 3 2 Z but 2 2 / Z.
Definition 1.1.2 If A and B are sets and every element of A is also an element of B, then we say A is a
subset of B, which is denoted by A ✓ B. Equivalently, we can say B contains A or B is a superset of A,
which is denoted by B ◆ A.

Notation 1.2.

the set of all x that satisfy property P {x : P}

A is a subset B or A is contained in B A✓B
B superset A B◆A
the empty set 0/

⌅ Example 1.2 — Using the notation. Let A = {1, 2} and B = {1, 2, 3, 4}. Is A a subset of B?

Operations on sets: Let A and B be sets.

The union of A and B A [ B := {x : x 2 A or x 2 B}
The intersection of A and B A \ B := {x : x 2 A and x 2 B}
⌅ Example 1.3 Unions and Intersection Let A = {1, 3, 5, 8}. and B = {3, 5, 15} What is A [ B and A \ B?
 1.1 Numbers, Inequalities, and Absolute Values 3

1.1.3 Intervals
An interval is a subset of the real numbers that are used frequently in calculus.
Open interval from a to b is the set of all numbers between a and b without including the endpoints. It is
denoted by (a, b) and in set-builder notation we write

(a, b) = {x : a < x < b}.

Closed interval from a to b is the set of all numbers between a and b including the endpoints. It is denoted
by [a, b] and in set-builder notation we write

[a, b] = {x : a  x  b}.

⌅ Example 1.4 Describe the notation and set-builder notation that describes the following intervals.

1.1.4 Inequalities
1. If a < b, then a + c < b + c.
2. If a < b and c < d, then a + c < b + d.
3. If a < b and c > 0, then ac < bc.
4. If a < b and c < 0, then ac > bc.
5. If 0 < a < b, then 1/a > 1/b.

R If we multiply both sides of an inequality by a negative number, remember to reverse the direction of
the inequality.
4 Chapter 1. Review

⌅ Example 1.5 Solve the inequality in terms of intervals and illustrate the solution set on the real number
line:
2x 3  x + 4 < 3x 2
 1.1 Numbers, Inequalities, and Absolute Values 5

⌅ Example 1.6 Solve the inequality x2 + 3x 4 > 0.

1.1.5 Absolute Value

Definition 1.1.3 The absolute value of a is denoted by |a| and is defined by

8
<a if a 0
|a| :=
: a if a < 0

The above definition can be interpreted geometrically as the distance from a to 0. Therefore, |a| 0 since
distances cannot be negative. Furthermore, |a c| represents the distance between a and c.
Examples: | 3| = 3, |2| = 2, and |p 5| = 5 p
p
Other characterizations: |a| = max{a, a}; |a| = a2
Properties of absolute value
Let a and b be real numbers and n an integer.
1. |ab| = |a||b|
a |a|
2. = , b 6= 0
b |b|
3. |an | = |a|n , where n is an integer.
6 Chapter 1. Review

⌅ Example 1.7 Express |x 1| without using the absolute-value symbol.

Solving Equations Involving Absolute Values

Absolute Value Equality Let b > 0. Then

1. For a 0, |a| = b is equivalent to a = b

2. For a < 0, |a| = b is equivalent to a = b.

Proof.

Absolute Value Equality

|a| = |b| is equivalent to a = b or a = b.

⌅ Example 1.8 Solve |x 4| = |2x + 2| and graph its solution on a number line.
1.1 Numbers, Inequalities, and Absolute Values 7

Absolute Value Inequalites Let b > 0. Then

1. |a|  b is equivalent to bab

2. |a| b is equivalent to a b or a  b

Proof.

⌅ Example 1.9 Solve

|4x 1|  2

and graph its solution set on a number line. Give your answer in interval notation.
8 Chapter 1. Review

Theorem 1.1.1 — The Triangle Inequality. If x and y are real numbers, then

|x + y|  |x| + |y|.

Proof.

⌅ Example 1.10 Prove the following:

a. Show that if |x + 1| < 2, then |2x + 2| < 4.
b. Show that if |x + 1| < 2, then |2x + 1| < 5.