Chapter 2: Problem 55
Solve each inequality. Graph the solution set and write it in interval notation. $$ -3<3 x<6 $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The solution set is \((-1, 2)\).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Compound Inequality
The inequality given is \(-3 < 3x < 6\). This means we need to find all the values of \(x\) that satisfy both \(-3 < 3x\) and \(3x < 6\) simultaneously.
02
Solve the Left Inequality
First, solve \(-3 < 3x\) by isolating \(x\). Divide both sides by 3 to get \(-1 < x\).
03
Solve the Right Inequality
Next, solve \(3x < 6\) by isolating \(x\). Divide both sides by 3 to get \(x < 2\).
04
Combine the Solutions
The solutions of the compound inequality are \(-1 < x\) and \(x < 2\). Combining these, the solution is \(-1 < x < 2\).
05
Write in Interval Notation
The interval notation for \(-1 < x < 2\) is \((-1, 2)\).
06
Graph the Solution
To graph the solution \((-1, 2)\), draw a number line. Place open circles (indicating that the endpoint is not included) at \(-1\) and \(2\), and shade the line between these two points.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Understanding Compound Inequalities
Compound inequalities bring together two inequalities into a single statement, often using the word "and". The goal is to find the values that satisfy both inequalities simultaneously. For the compound inequality \-3 < 3x < 6\, you need to address each part separately before combining them into a complete solution.
- First, solve the left side: \-3 < 3x\. You want to isolate the variable \( x \), so divide both sides by 3. This gives you \-1 < x\.
- Next, solve the right side: \(3x < 6\). Likewise, divide by 3 to isolate \( x \), providing \( x < 2 \).
- Finally, put the two parts together: \-1 < x < 2\.
Interval Notation Explained
Interval notation is a concise way of expressing a range of numbers, making it a favorite in mathematics. When you express a solution in interval notation, you are detailing exactly what numbers are included in the solution set.
For the compound inequality \-1 < x < 2\, the interval notation is written as \((-1, 2)\). Here's the breakdown:
For the compound inequality \-1 < x < 2\, the interval notation is written as \((-1, 2)\). Here's the breakdown:
- The round brackets \(( )\) mean that the endpoints \(-1\) and \(2\) are not included in the solution (this is known as "not inclusive"). If the endpoints were included, square brackets \([ ]\) would be used instead.
- The order reflects the range from left to right on a number line, starting with the smallest number \(-1\) and ending with the largest number \(2\).
Graphing Inequalities on a Number Line
Graphing involves visually representing the range of solutions on a number line, which helps in understanding the solution better.
For the interval \((-1, 2)\):
For the interval \((-1, 2)\):
- Draw a horizontal line to represent the number line.
- Mark the points \(-1\) and \(2\) on this line.
- Since the endpoints are not included, draw open circles around \(-1\) and \(2\). Open circles indicate that these points themselves are excluded from the solution set.
- Shade the region between \(-1\) and \(2\) to show all the numbers that are part of the solution. This visually highlights \(-1 \lt x \lt 2\).
Solving Inequalities Step by Step
To solve an inequality, it's essential to manipulate it in a way that isolates the variable, similar to solving an equation. However, the rules for inequalities include a special caveat about direction changes.
- When you multiply or divide both sides of an inequality by a negative number, the inequality sign flips. Thankfully, in our example, this wasn't necessary, as we divided by a positive \(3\).
- Steps for solving involve isolating the variable \( x \) either by adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing both sides by the same number.
- Consider both parts of the compound inequality separately first, as we combined the solutions \(-1 < x\) and \(x < 2\) to form the final interval \(-1 < x < 2\).