Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Rational Inequalities
Rational inequalities involve expressions that are ratios of polynomials set against a constant, often requiring the determination of where the expression is less than, greater than, or equal to zero. To solve these inequalities, one must find the critical points where the expression equals zero or is undefined, and then test intervals to determine where the inequality holds true.
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Rationalizing Denominators
Interval Notation
Interval notation is a mathematical notation used to represent a range of values. It uses parentheses and brackets to indicate whether endpoints are included (closed intervals) or excluded (open intervals). For example, the interval (a, b] includes all numbers greater than 'a' and up to and including 'b'.
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Critical Points
Critical points are values of the variable where the rational expression is either zero or undefined. These points are essential in solving rational inequalities as they divide the number line into intervals. By testing these intervals, one can determine where the inequality is satisfied, leading to the final solution set.
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