Method 1: Solve by Graphing
Step 1: Place the inequality in standard form with zero on one side.
Step 2: Graph the quadratic equation.
Step 3: Shade the x-values that produce the desired results.
Step 4: Convert the shading to interval notation.
Solve and express the solution set in interval notation.
Solve by graphing.
Remember to use open dots for strict inequalities < or > and closed dots for inclusive inequalities.
Often it is quite tedious and difficult to graph each inequality when trying to solve them. There is a shorter method and it involves sign charts. The idea is to find the critical numbers, the x-values where the y-values could change from positive to negative and create a sign chart to determine which intervals to shade on the x-axis.
Method 2: Solve using sign charts.
Step 1: Place the inequality in standard form with zero on one side.
Step 2: Find the critical numbers (for quadratics - the x-intercepts.)
Step 3: Create a sign chart by determining the sign in each interval bounded by the critical numbers.
Step 4: Use the sign chart to answer the question.
Solve and graph the solution set.
Find the critical numbers by setting the quadratic expression equal to zero and solve.
Use the sign chart to answer the question. In this case we are looking for the x-values that produce negative results as indicated by the inequality < 0 "less than zero" in the original question.
When testing values in the intervals created by the critical numbers the actual value is not necessary, we are only concerned with its sign. The sign + or - will be the same for any value in the interval so you may choose any number within the interval when testing.
Solve and graph the solution set.
Tip: Save some time and just determine if the corresponding y-value is positive or negative. If the polynomial factors then use the factors to determine if the interval will produce positive or negative y-values. There is no need to find the actual values.
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