Chapter 2: Problem 12
Solve the inequality symbolically. Express the solution set in set-builder or interval notation. $$ 3(x+5) \leq 0 $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The solution set is \((-\infty, -5]\) in interval notation.
Step by step solution
01
Distribute the 3
Start by distributing the 3 across the expression inside the parentheses. This means multiplying 3 by both terms inside the parentheses: \[ 3(x + 5) = 3x + 15 \] So the inequality becomes: \[ 3x + 15 \leq 0 \]
02
Isolate the variable term
Next, we need to isolate the term with the variable, 3x. To do this, subtract 15 from both sides of the inequality:\[ 3x + 15 - 15 \leq 0 - 15 \]This simplifies to:\[ 3x \leq -15 \]
03
Solve for x
Now we need to solve for \( x \). Divide both sides of the inequality by 3:\[ \frac{3x}{3} \leq \frac{-15}{3} \]This simplifies to:\[ x \leq -5 \]
04
Express the solution
We have determined that \( x \leq -5 \). We can express this solution in interval notation as follows:The solution set is:\[ (-\infty, -5] \] This means \( x \) includes all real numbers less than or equal to -5.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Solving Inequalities
In the realm of algebra, solving inequalities plays a vital role in understanding how different quantities compare to one another. The goal is to find all possible values of a variable that satisfy the inequality condition. Here's a breakdown of the process:
- Distribute and Simplify: Start by simplifying the expression, just like in the given inequality, where 3 gets distributed over the terms inside the parentheses, simplifying it to \(3x + 15\).
- Isolate the Variable: The next step involves isolating the variable on one side of the inequality, similar to isolating \(3x\) by subtracting 15 from both sides, resulting in \(3x \leq -15\).
- Solving for the Variable: Dividing or multiplying through by a constant to solve for the variable is crucial here. For our case, dividing by 3 yields \(x \leq -5\).
Set-Builder Notation
Set-builder notation is one of the ways to neatly express a solution set of an inequality. It provides a clear, mathematical format to describe all the possible solutions.When we use set-builder notation, we specify a set and a condition that members of that set must satisfy. For example, in the problem where we've solved \(x \leq -5\), we can express this in set-builder notation as:\[ \{ x \mid x \leq -5 \} \]Here's how to read and understand this:
- The curly brackets \( \{ \} \) show we are defining a set.
- \( x \) represents the variable.
- The vertical bar, \( \mid \), is read as "such that". It separates the variable from its condition, effectively saying "the set of all \( x \) such that...."
- \( x \leq -5 \) is the condition that specifies what values make up the set.
Interval Notation
Interval notation is another elegant method to express solutions of inequalities. It uses intervals to show a range of values the variable can take, often more visually intuitive than set-builder notation.For the inequality \(x \leq -5\), its corresponding interval notation is:\[ (-\infty, -5] \]Here's what each part means:
- The round bracket \((\) before \(-\infty\) implies that \(-\infty\) is never included in a set because infinity isn't a specific number.
- The square bracket \([\) after \(-5\) indicates that \(-5\) is included in the solution set; thus, \(x\) can be exactly \(-5\) or anything smaller.