Find the range of x for these inequations:
1) |x^2 - 7x + 12| > x^2 - 7x + 12
2) 2 <= |x+3| < 11
3) |x+8| < |x-3|
Find the range of x for these inequations:
1) |x^2 - 7x + 12| > x^2 - 7x + 12
2) 2 <= |x+3| < 11
3) |x+8| < |x-3|
Originally Posted by arjmen
1) x is between (3;4)
2) x is between (-14 ; -5) U [-1; 8)
3) x < - 2.5
1) 3<x<4
2) -14<x<=-5 U -1<=x<8
3)x<-2.5
Could someone please write out how to solve the first one for old-timers such as myself

I agree with the first two. Could somebody please explain how the third eq was resolved?

|x+8| < |x-3|Originally Posted by Synergy79
x<=-8
-x-8<-x+3
-8<3
x<=-8
-8<x<3
x+8<-x+3
-8<x<-2.5
x>3
x+8<x-3
8<-3
overall x<-2.5
Solutions:
1) |x^2 - 7x + 12| > x^2 - 7x + 12
If |y| > y, clearly y<0
Similarly,
x^2 - 7x + 12 < 0
=> (x-4)(x-3) < 0
Therefore, 3 < x < 4
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2) 2 <= |x+3| < 11
Textbook approach:
Break into 2 inequations
i) |x+3| < 11
implies -11 < (x+3) < 11
implies -14 < x < 8
ii) |x+3| >= 2
implies x >= -1 OR x <= -5
Merging the 2 solution sets gives,
-14 < x <= -5 OR -1 <= x < 8
Number line method:
http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/53126.html
I find that sketching a quick graph, helps me see the answer immediately
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
3) |x+8| < |x-3|
Clearly, x<0
We have 2 inequations:
i) -(x+8) < -(x-3) --------> where (x+8) <= 0
implies -8 < 3 ---> Insightful!![]()
ii) (x+8) < -(x-3) ---------> where (x+8) > 0
implies x < -5/2
Therefore, x < -5/2
Last edited by arjmen; 07-22-2005 at 09:10 AM. Reason: formatting
In Solution 3,
Why is -(x-3) the RHS in both inequalities? why not (x-3).
|x+8| < |x+3|
=> (x+8) < (x+3) ; -(x+8) < (x+3)
OR
(x+8) < -(x+3) ; -(x+8) < -(x+3)
Please explain...
|x+8| < |x+3|
From the above, there can be 4 equations possible.
-(x+8)=-(x+3) ==> (x+8)=(x+3)
-(x+8)=(x+3) ==> (x+8)=-(x+3)
(x+8)=-(x+3)
(x+8)=(x+3)
From the above you can see that there are actually 2 equations only. How you want to put - and + on both side of equations depends from each person I think![]()
Q1:Q2: nothing added to arjmen
Q3: I recommend solving it geometrically. Much easier for linear absolute values.
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