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Mathematics 11 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

Solve the absolute value inequality |3x - 1| - |x + 1| > 0 Below I will post my attempt.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Breaking up both arguments into cases: Case 1: (3x - 1) ≥ 0 . This is when x ≥ 1/3 (3x - 1) - (x + 1) > 0 3x - 1 - x - 1 > 0 2x - 2 > 0 2x > 2 x > 1 Case 2: (3x - 1) < 0. This is when x < 1/3 -(3x - 1) - -(x + 1) > 0 -3x + 1 -(-x - 1) > 0 -3x + 1 + x + 1 > 0 -2x + 2 > 0 -2x > -2 x < 1 Case 3: (x + 1) ≥ 0. This is when x ≥ -1 (3x - 1) - (x + 1) > 0 3x - 1 -x -1 > 0 2x - 2 > 0 2x > 2 x > 1 [i]But, what if for the sake of argument, you pick x = 0 within that interval [-1,∞)[/i] -(3x - 1) - (x + 1) > 0 -3x + 1 -x - 1 > 0 -4x + 0 > 0 x > 0 Case 4: (x + 1) < 0. This is when x < -1 -(3x - 1) - -(x + 1) > 0 -3x + 1 - (-x -1) > 0 -3x + 1 + x + 1 > 0 -2x + 2 > 0 -2x > -2 x < 1 I am not sure as to whether or not I did this properly at all.

OpenStudy (zarkon):

I get x<0 , x>1

hero (hero):

Well, at least I was right about it being only two possibilities

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Ok how did you get only those two solutions?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Squaring both sides. ; )

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Maybe I mean that is How I got but Zarkon may have some different method.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

The problem with squaring is that you sometimes have wrong solutions in your answer so every time you square you must check your main function with the solutions you get.

OpenStudy (zarkon):

@ hero put 1/2 into the original equation

OpenStudy (anonymous):

How are you able to square both sides?

hero (hero):

What I mean is I added | x + 1| to both sides first

OpenStudy (zarkon):

\[(3x-1)^2=(x+1)^2\Rightarrow x=0,1\]

OpenStudy (zarkon):

\[|3x - 1| - |x + 1| > 0\] \[|3/2 - 1| - |1/2 + 1| > 0\] \[1/2-3/2>0\] \[-1>0\]

hero (hero):

Nope.... what I wrote is still correct

OpenStudy (zarkon):

really ?

hero (hero):

Oh, I made a mistake

OpenStudy (zarkon):

the answer is x<0, x>1

hero (hero):

I thought it was |3x+1|

hero (hero):

craps

hero (hero):

You don't have to square both sides to solve these though

OpenStudy (zarkon):

I didn't do it that way

OpenStudy (anonymous):

ah yeah you are correct but I have to get I mean right now I am not perfect through the other way so I square as I am more confident in the squaring method.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

But I will leave squaring as soon as I get good in the other method : )

hero (hero):

I don't really trust squaring

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Me either

OpenStudy (anonymous):

You get extraneous roots.

hero (hero):

The other way splits it into four inequalities with potentially four possible solutions

hero (hero):

Sometimes you only get two solutions, like in this case

OpenStudy (anonymous):

I know but I need more practice at that.

OpenStudy (zarkon):

squaring in this case is fine if you use equality then pick numbers in your intervals to see if they satisfy the original equation

OpenStudy (zarkon):

*original inequality

hero (hero):

I need more practice at just inputting the correct equation. I used |3x+1| instead of |3x-1|

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Thanks. @Zarkon

OpenStudy (zarkon):

np

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