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 in an inequality format. To solve them, one must determine where the rational expression is greater than or less than zero. This often requires finding critical points where the expression is undefined or equals zero, and then testing intervals to see 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 interval) or excluded (open interval). For example, (a, b) means all numbers between a and b, not including a and b, while [a, b] includes both endpoints.
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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 solution set.
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