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Rational inequalities

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51324712
Consider the function \(g(x) = -\frac{10}{x} + 2\). a) Find the value of \(x\) for which \(g(x) = 7\). b) For which positive values of \(x\) is \(g(x) > 0\)? c) Which is greater, \(g(10)\) or \(g(100)\)? Justify your answer without fully calculating both values by analyzing the structure of the function rule.

Hints

- How can you clear a denominator when solving for \(x\)? - When multiplying an inequality by \(x\), why does the condition \(x > 0\) matter? - What happens to \(\frac{10}{x}\) as positive \(x\) increases from \(10\) to \(100\)?

Solution

1. Solve \(-\frac{10}{x} + 2 = 7\). Then \(-\frac{10}{x} = 5\), so \(-10 = 5x\) and \(x = -2\). 2. For \(x > 0\), solve \(-\frac{10}{x} + 2 > 0\). This is equivalent to \(2 > \frac{10}{x}\). Multiplying by the positive quantity \(x\) gives \(2x > 10\), so \(x > 5\). 3. For positive \(x\), the quantity \(\frac{10}{x}\) decreases as \(x\) increases. Since \(g(x) = 2 - \frac{10}{x}\), subtracting the smaller quantity gives the larger output. Therefore, \(g(100) > g(10)\).

Answer

a) \(x = -2\) b) \(x > 5\) c) \(g(100) > g(10)\), because \(\frac{10}{x}\) decreases as positive \(x\) increases.
52691712
Let \(h(x)=\frac{x^3-4x}{x^2-2x-3}\). a) Find all x-intercepts of \(h\). b) Find the intervals on which \(h(x)\geq 0\). Write your answer in interval notation.

Hints

- Factor the numerator and denominator completely. - The sign can change only at a zero or an excluded value. - Test one value in each interval determined by the critical values. - Include numerator zeros, but exclude denominator zeros.

Solution

1. Factor the numerator: \(x^3-4x=x(x^2-4)=x(x-2)(x+2)\). The numerator is zero at \(x=-2\), \(x=0\), and \(x=2\). 2. Factor the denominator: \(x^2-2x-3=(x-3)(x+1)\). The excluded values are \(x=-1\) and \(x=3\). No factors cancel, so the x-intercepts are \((-2, 0)\), \((0, 0)\), and \((2, 0)\). 3. Use the critical values \(-2\), \(-1\), \(0\), \(2\), and \(3\) to make a sign chart for \(\frac{x(x-2)(x+2)}{(x-3)(x+1)}\). 4. The expression is nonnegative on \([-2, -1)\), \([0, 2]\), and \((3, \infty)\). Include the zeros of the numerator and exclude the zeros of the denominator.

Answer

a) The x-intercepts are \((-2, 0)\), \((0, 0)\), and \((2, 0)\). b) \([-2, -1)\cup[0, 2]\cup(3, \infty)\)
52691812
Consider the inequality \(\frac{3}{x-2}\geq x\). a) Solve the inequality algebraically. b) Interpret the solution geometrically using the graphs of \(f(x)=\frac{3}{x-2}\) and \(g(x)=x\).

Hints

- Move all terms to one side and combine them into one rational expression. - Do not multiply an inequality by an expression containing \(x\) unless you know its sign. - Use the zeros and excluded values to divide the number line into test intervals. - Interpret \(f(x)\geq g(x)\) as a comparison of the graphs' vertical positions.

Solution

1. Move all terms to one side: \(\frac{3}{x-2}-x\geq 0\). 2. Combine the terms: \(\frac{3-x(x-2)}{x-2}=\frac{-x^2+2x+3}{x-2}=\frac{-(x-3)(x+1)}{x-2}\geq 0\). 3. The critical values are \(x=-1\) and \(x=3\), where the numerator is zero, and \(x=2\), which is excluded from the domain. 4. A sign chart shows that the expression is nonnegative on \((-\infty, -1]\) and \((2, 3]\). 5. On these intervals, \(f(x)\geq g(x)\), so the graph of \(f\) lies on or above the graph of \(g\). The graphs intersect when \(x=-1\) and \(x=3\).

Answer

a) \((-\infty, -1]\cup(2, 3]\) b) On these intervals, the graph of \(f\) lies on or above the graph of \(g\). The graphs intersect at x-values \(-1\) and \(3\).
52692512
Solve the inequality \(\frac{x^2-2x-8}{x-1}\geq 0\).

Hints

- Factor the numerator. - Find the value that makes the denominator zero. - Use the zeros and excluded value to create test intervals. - Decide which boundary values can be included.

Solution

1. Factor the numerator: \(x^2-2x-8=(x-4)(x+2)\). Its zeros are \(x=-2\) and \(x=4\). 2. The denominator is zero at \(x=1\), so \(x=1\) is excluded. 3. The critical values \(-2\), \(1\), and \(4\) divide the number line into test intervals. 4. A sign chart for \(\frac{(x-4)(x+2)}{x-1}\) gives a negative sign on \((-\infty, -2)\), a positive sign on \((-2, 1)\), a negative sign on \((1, 4)\), and a positive sign on \((4, \infty)\). 5. Include the numerator zeros because equality is allowed, and exclude \(x=1\). Therefore, the solution is \([-2, 1)\cup[4, \infty)\).

Answer

\([-2, 1)\cup[4, \infty)\)
52692612
Solve the inequality \(\frac{x^2-4x+4}{x^2-x-6}\leq 0\).

Hints

- Factor both polynomials. - Determine whether the squared numerator can ever be negative. - Find where the denominator is negative. - Exclude values that make the denominator zero.

Solution

1. Factor the numerator and denominator: \(x^2-4x+4=(x-2)^2\) and \(x^2-x-6=(x-3)(x+2)\). 2. The numerator is nonnegative for every real \(x\) and equals \(0\) only at \(x=2\). The excluded values are \(x=-2\) and \(x=3\). 3. The denominator \((x-3)(x+2)\) is negative between its zeros, so it is negative on \((-2, 3)\). 4. On \((-2, 3)\), the quotient is negative except at \(x=2\), where it equals \(0\). Thus every value in that open interval satisfies the inequality. 5. The endpoints are excluded because they make the denominator zero. Therefore, the solution is \((-2, 3)\).

Answer

\((-2, 3)\)
53460012
Use the graph to find one possible function rule for the rational function \(k\). Then find the domain of \(g(x)=\ln(k(x))\), and compare it with \(\mathbb{R}\setminus[2, 5]\).
Figure for problem 534600

Hints

- Use the zero and asymptotes to construct \(k\). - The input of a natural logarithm must be positive. - Make a sign chart using the numerator zero and denominator zero.

Solution

1. The graph has vertical asymptote \(x=2\), zero \(x=5\), and horizontal asymptote \(y=1\). A matching rule is \(k(x)=\frac{x-5}{x-2}\). It also gives \(k(0)=\frac{-5}{-2}=2.5\), matching the graph. 2. The logarithm requires \(k(x)>0\), so solve \(\frac{x-5}{x-2}>0\). 3. The critical values are \(2\) and \(5\). The numerator and denominator have the same sign when \(x<2\) or \(x>5\). 4. Therefore, the domain is \((-\infty, 2)\cup(5, \infty)\), which is exactly \(\mathbb{R}\setminus[2, 5]\).

Answer

One possible rule is \(k(x)=\frac{x-5}{x-2}\). The domain of \(g\) is \((-\infty, 2)\cup(5, \infty)=\mathbb{R}\setminus[2, 5]\).
53460112
Which graph represents a rational function \(k\) for which the domain of \(g(x)=\ln(k(x))\) is the open interval \((-4, 2)\)? Justify your choice and find the corresponding function rule for \(k\).
Figure for problem 534601

Hints

- The logarithm is defined where its input is positive. - Identify the graph that lies above the x-axis only between \(-4\) and \(2\). - Use the zero and vertical asymptote to construct the rational function. - Substitute a clear point to determine the scale factor.

Solution

1. The logarithm is defined exactly where \(k(x)>0\). Therefore, the correct graph must lie above the x-axis only for \(-4<x<2\). 2. Graph A has a zero at \(x=-4\), a vertical asymptote at \(x=2\), and positive values only between these two values. Graph B is positive outside that interval. Therefore, Graph A is correct. 3. A rule with zero \(-4\) and vertical asymptote \(2\) is \(k(x)=a\frac{x+4}{2-x}\). 4. Graph A passes through \((0, 2)\), so \(2=a\frac{4}{2}=2a\). Thus, \(a=1\), and \(k(x)=\frac{x+4}{2-x}\).

Answer

Graph A; \(k(x)=\frac{x+4}{2-x}\)

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