Monday, August 15, 2016

Middle School Math Solutions – Polynomials Calculator, Adding Polynomials

A polynomial is an expression of two or more algebraic terms, often having different exponents. Adding polynomials is pretty simple. The only tricky part is that there are different terms. The key is to add the like terms. Like terms are terms that have the same variable with the same exponent, even if they have different coefficients. There are three steps to adding polynomials:
1. Remove parentheses - only include this step if the polynomials are in parentheses
2. Group like terms - put together and order like terms (terms with the same variable and same exponent)
3. Add like terms - add the coefficients of the like terms

Let’s check out some examples step by step.

(x^2+2x-1)+(2x^2-3x+6)
1. Remove parentheses
x^2+2x-1+2x^2-3x+6
2. Group like terms
x^2+2x^2+2x-3x-1+6
When I group like terms, I like to group and put the terms in order from the largest exponent to the smallest exponent.

3x^2+2x-3x-1+6
3x^2-x-1+6
3x^2-x+5

(2x^3+4x+7)+(2x^2+5x-6)
1. Remove parentheses
2x^3+4x+7+2x^2+5x-6
2. Group like terms
2x^3+2x^2+4x+5x+7-6
2x^3+2x^2+9x+1

4x+(4x-2)+(x^2-3)
1. Remove parentheses
4x+4x-2+x^2-3
2. Group like terms
x^2+4x+4x-2-3
x^2+8x-2-3
x^2+8x-5

Adding polynomials is pretty simple and requires just a few steps. The trickiest part about adding polynomials is making sure that you pay attention the exponents. It is easy to overlook and confuse a 2 for a 3. For more practice on this topic, check out Symbolab’s Practice.

Until next time,

Leah

Thursday, June 9, 2016

High School Math Solutions – Inequalities Calculator, Absolute Value Inequalities Part II

Last post we talked about absolute value inequalities with one absolute value expression. In this post, we will learn how to solve absolute value inequalities with two absolute value expressions. To do this, we will use some concepts from a previous post on rational functions. This can get a little tricky and confusing, so take time to read everything carefully.

I’ll show you the steps to solving these inequalities and then I will go through one example step by step.

Steps:
1. For each absolute value expression, figure out their negative and positive ranges.
2. Combine ranges if needed
3. For each range, evaluate the absolute value inequality
4. Combine the ranges

\frac{|3x+2|}{|x-1|} >2
Step 1: For each absolute value expression, figure out their negative and positive ranges
3x+2 x-1
Positive (≥0) 3x+2≥0
Range:x\ge-\frac{2}{3}
Positive absolute value expression:|3x+2|=3x+2
x-1≥0
Range:x≥1
Positive absolute value expression:|x-1|=x-1
Negative (<0) 3x+2<0
Range:x\le-\frac{2}{3}
Positive absolute value expression:|3x+2|=-(3x+2)
x-1<0
Range:x<1
Positive absolute value expression:|x-1|=-(x-1)

Step 2: Combine ranges if needed

Step 3: For each range, evaluate the absolute value inequality

For x<-\frac{2}{3}:

 \frac{-(3x+2)}{-(x-1)}>2 We use the negative absolute value expressions because for both expressions the range is less than their negative range. \frac{3x+2}{x-1}>2 \frac{x+4}{x-1}>0 Now, we see that this is just a rational inequality. So we solve the rational inequality x<-4\:or\:x>1 The steps aren’t shown to get the answer. You can refer back to the rational inequalities blog if you forget how to solve it

For -\frac{2}{3}≤x<1:

 \frac{3x+2}{-(x-1)}>2 We use the negative absolute value expression for the |x-1| because the range is less than its range. \frac{5x}{1-x}>0 0

For x≥1:
 \frac{3x+2}{x-1}>2 \frac{x+4}{x-1}>2 x<-4\:or\:x>1

Step 4: Combine the ranges

(x<-\frac{2}{3}\:and\:x<-4\:or\:x>1)\:or\:(-\frac{2}{3}≤x<1\:and\:0<x<1)\:or\:(x≥1\:and\:x<-4\:or\:x>1)

Answer: x<-4 or x>1 or 0<x<1

Hopefully, that wasn’t too complicated. Now let’s see one more example.

As you can see, this topic can be very confusing and tricky. The more you practice, the more natural it will become. For more practice examples check out Symbolab’s practice.

Until next time,
Leah

High School Math Solutions – Inequalities Calculator, Absolute Value Inequalities Part I

Last post, we learned how to solve rational inequalities. In this post, we will learn how to solve absolute value inequalities. There are two ways to solve these types of inequalities depending on what the inequality sign is. Let’s see how to solve them . . .

Case I (< or ≤):
Given |x|<a, we read this as “x is less than a units for 0.” On a number that looks like:

The red line is the solution for x. Remember because it is “less than,” a is not included in the points (this is why the circle is not filled in).

So we rewrite

The solution is in this form: -a<x<a.
The same goes for ≤. Just substitute ≤ for < and fill in the circles in the number line.

Case II(> or ≥):
Given |x|>a, we read this as “ x is more than a units from 0.” On a number line, that looks like:
The red line is the solution for x. Remember because it is “greater than.” A is not included in the points.

So we rewrite

The solution is 2 inequalities, NOT one. It is in the form: x<-a or x>a.
The same goes for ≥. Just substitute ≥ for > and fill in the circles in the number line.

NOTE: Remember to carry out any algebraic manipulations outside of the absolute value before continuing, for example:
2|x|-2>4
|x|>3
ANOTHER NOTE: Make sure a is positive or else there is no solution.

Let’s see some examples . . .

Notice that the algebraic manipulations to be done are inside the absolute value, so that is done last.

That wasn’t too complicated. Next post, we will learn how to solve absolute value inequalities with two absolute value expressions in it. Make sure you practice because next post the problems will become trickier.

Until next time,

Leah

High School Math Solutions – Inequalities Calculator, Rational Inequalities

Last post, we talked about solving quadratic inequalities. In this post, we will talk about rational inequalities. Let’s recall rational functions are an algebraic fraction that contain polynomials in the numerator and denominator. Solving rational inequalities is a little different than solving quadratic inequalities. Both share the concept of a table and testing values.

Let’s see how to solve rational inequalities.

Here the steps:
1. Move everything to one side of the inequality sign
2. Simplify the rational function
3. Find the zeros from the numerator and undefined points in the denominator
4. Derive intervals
5. Find the sign of the rational function on each interval
6. Select the proper inequality

Let’s go through our first example step by step to understand the concept better.

\frac{x}{x-3}<4
Step 1: Move everything to one side of the inequality sign
\frac{x}{x-3}<4
\frac{x}{x-3}-4<0
\frac{-3x+12}{x-3}<0
Make sure you combine everything into one rational function.

Step 2: Simplify the rational function
\frac{-3x+12}{x-3}<0
\frac{3(-x+4)}{x-3}<0
It’s already simplified. Nothing to cancel out.

Step 3: Find the zeros from the numerator and undefined points in the denominator
-3x+12=0                                                        x-3=0
x=4                                                                     x=3
Zero                                                                     Undefined point

Step 4: Derive intervals

Step 5: Find the sign of the rational function on each interval

\frac{-3x+12}{x-3} \frac{-3(0)+12}{(0)-3}=-4 \frac{-3(3.5)+12}{(3.5)-3}=3 \frac{-3(5)+12}{(5)-3}=-\frac{3}{2}

We changed the format of the intervals to inequalities. We pick a number in the interval, plug the number in the rational function and see what sign the answer is (negative or positive).

Step 6: Select the proper inequality
\frac{-3x+12}{x-3}<0
We refer back to the original inequality and see which inequality satisfies the original inequality. We are looking for a number that produces a negative number. We refer back to the table and see that x<3 and x>4 satisfy this.

Alright, that was a mouthful. Let’s see some more examples now…

Make sure you double check your work for calculation errors because that is where it’s very easy to make a mistake. For more practice, check out Symbolab’s practice.

Until next time,

Leah

High School Math Solutions – Inequalities Calculator, Quadratic Inequalities

We’ve learned how to solve linear inequalities. Now, it’s time to learn how to solve quadratic inequalities. Solving quadratic inequalities is a little harder than solving linear inequalities. Let’s see how to solve them.

There are a couple ways to solve quadratic inequalities depending on the inequality. I’ll focus on explaining the more complicated version.

We’re given the quadratic inequality: x^2+2x-8\le0

Here are the steps to solving it:
1. Move everything to one side of the inequality sign
2. Set the inequality sign to an equal sign and solve for x
3. Create three intervals
4. Pick a number in each inequality and see if it satisfies the original inequality
5. Select the proper inequality

Now we will go through this example step by step to understand a little better how to solve it.

x^2+2x-8\le0
Looks good!

Step 2: Set the inequality sign to an equal sign and solve for x
x^2+2x-8=0
(x-2)(x+4)=0
x=2\:and\:x=-4
Step 3: Create three intervals

We are able to pick three intervals from looking at the number and seeing where the function crosses the x-axis (i.e. where the function is equal to 0).

Step 4: Pick a number in each inequality and see if it satisfies the original inequality
x<-4               -4<x<2               x>2
x^2+2x-8 (-5)^2+2(-5)-8=7 (0)^2+2(0)-8=-8 (3)^2+2(3)-8=7

We’ve turned the intervals into inequalities. Then, we picked a number in each inequality to see if it satisfied the original inequality, x^2+2x-8\le0.

Step 5: Select the proper inequality
-4<x<2
-4\lex\le2
We’ve selected -4<x<2 because it satisfies the original inequality because the quadratic is negative when x is between -4 and 2. However, don’t forget that the original equality contains the ≤ symbol so that means x can equal 0 too. We change the inequality signs because we know -4 and 2 are the zeros of the quadratic.

Let’s see some more examples…

Hopefully, that wasn’t too hard! Solving quadratic inequalities sometimes require patience to write everything out. For more help check out Symbolab’s practice.

Until next time,

Leah

High School Math Solutions – Inequalities Calculator, Compound Inequalities

In the previous post, we talked about solving linear inequalities. In today’s post we will focus on compound inequalities, which are just a little more complicated than linear inequalities.

A compound inequality is an equation of two or more inequalities joined together by “and” or “or”. Sometimes you see compound inequalities joined by “and” written like -3<2x-1<5. Compound inequalities have three parts: the left, the middle, and then right. Just like compound inequalities, our goal is to isolate the variable. However, we want the variable to be isolated in the middle part.

How do we get that answer? The key is to break the compound inequalities.

Here are the steps for solving compound inequalities:
1. Break the inequality into two parts
2. Solve each linear inequality by isolating the variable
3. Combine the inequalities

Simple enough? Let’s break down an example step by step to understand the concept.

-17<3+10x\le33
1. Break the inequality into two parts

-17<3+10x                                                    3+10x\le33

Based on the definition of a compound inequality, we know that this compound is made of two inequalities. We break the compound inequality down into its two inequalities.

2. Solve each linear inequality by isolating the variable

-17<3+10x                                                    3+10x\le33
-20<10x                                                        10x\le30
-2<x                                                              x\le3

Using algebra, we can isolate x and get two simplified inequalities.

3. Combine the inequalities
-2<x                                                           x\le3
-2<x\le3

Make sure after combining the inequalities that the simplified compound inequality makes logical sense.

Let’s see two more examples . . .

Solving compound inequalities is just little harder than solving linear inequalities. Remember to keep your work nice and neat and practice and you will do great! For more practice on compound inequalities, check out Symbolab’s practice.

Until next time,

Leah

High School Math Solutions – Inequalities Calculator, Linear Inequalities

Solving linear inequalities is pretty simple. A linear inequality is an inequality which involves a linear function. Think of a linear inequality as a linear equation. You solve a linear inequality just like you would a linear equation, by isolating the variable using algebraic manipulations.

One thing to note: if you divide or multiply a linear inequality by a negative number you must switch the inequality sign. That means if you have -2y\le4 and you divide the linear inequality by -2 to isolate y, then the sign switches to ≥. The inequality becomes y\ge2.

Let’s see some examples.

By using simple algebra, x was isolated and the answer was calculated. You can see that the sign was switched because the inequality was multiplied by -2.