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 relation to an inequality (e.g., ≥, ≤, >, <). To solve these, one must determine where the rational expression is positive or negative, which often requires finding critical points where the numerator or denominator equals zero.
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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 and Test Intervals
Critical points are values of the variable that make the rational expression equal to zero or undefined. To solve the inequality, one identifies these points and tests intervals between them to determine where the expression satisfies the inequality. This process helps in constructing the solution set in interval notation.
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