C3- The Modulus Function
Modulus of x = l x l = the positive value of x.
e.g. l5l = 5, l-5l = 5
Modulus Equations
Example 1: lxl=2 x= 2
Example 2: l x - 3l = 4
x–3= 4
ie x-3=4 x=7
or x–3=-4 x = -1
Example 3: l x- 4l = l 5 – 3xl
x – 4 = (5 – 3x)
9
x- 4 = 5 – 3x 4x = 9 x =
4
or x - 4 = - (5 - 3x)
x – 4 = - 5 + 3x
-2x =-1
1
x =
2
Example 4: 2 l x2 – 5 l = 4 lx - 1l
2 ( x2 – 5) = 4 ( x – 1)
2 x2 – 10 = ( 4x – 4)
2 x2 – 4x – 6 = 0
or 2 x2 + 4x – 14 = 0 x = 3, -1, -1 2 2
Exercise: Solve the following
1. lxl=9
2. lx - 6l=2
3. l 7 – 2x l = 9
4. l 3x – 2 l = l 6 – x l
5. 2 l x – 1l = 3 l 2x + 5 l
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C3- The Modulus Function
Modulus Inequalities
(i) Graphical Method.
The graph of y = l f (x) l is the graph of y = f (x) with the part below the x –
axis reflected in the x- axis.
Example 1 Solve the Inequality:
Ix+2I > I 2 X – I I.
Solution:
1st Sketch y = x + 2, then reflect the part below the x- axis - this gives the
graph of y = I x + 2 I.
X 0 -2
Y 2 0
2nd On same axis sketch y = 2 x – 1 and reflect to get y = I 2 x – I I
Clearly, y = I x + 2 I is greater than ( above ) y =l 2 x – I l between the points
of intersection of y = 2 x – I and y = x + 2
Solving Simultaneously,
2x–I = x+2
2x–I = (x+2)
2x–1 =x+2
or 2 x – I = - (x + 2)
x =3 or x = - 13
1
so < x < 3 is the solution.
3
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C3- The Modulus Function
Example 2 Solve 2x+4 >3
Solution Sketch y = 2 x + 4 and reflect the part where y is negative to
get y = 2 x + 4 . Then draw y = 3.
x 0 -2
y 4 0
Y= 2x+4
Clearly, 2 x + 4 > 3 either side of the points where y = 3 intersects
y= 2x+4 .
Solving simultaneously,
l2 x + 4 l = 3
2 x + 4 = 3, 2 x + 4 = - 3
1 7
x = x=
2 2
7 1
x<- , x>-
2 2
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C3- The Modulus Function
ii) Algebraic Method
Example 1: Solve the inequality, 2 x - I < x - 2
Solution: Square both sides
22 ( x – 1 ) 2 < ( x – 2 ) 2
4 ( x 2 - 2 x + 1) < x 2 - 4 x + 4
4 x2 - 8 x + 4 < x 2 - 4 x + 4
3 x2 - 4 x < 0
Quadratic inequality solve 3 x 2 - 4 x = 0 and sketch,
x(3x–4)=0
4
x = 0, x =
3
4
0 < x <
3
Example 2 : x-5 <2
x 2 - I 0 x + 25 < 4
x2 - I 0 x + 2 I < 0
Solve: ( x – 7 ) ( x – 3 ) 0 and sketch
3<x<7
Or use x <a -a<x<a
x > a x < - a, x > a
So; x-5 <2
- 2 < x – 5 < 2. (+5)
3<x<7
NB: For modulus – modulus inequalities you
must use the squaring method.
NB: For modulus – modulus inequalities you
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C3- The Modulus Function
Exercise Solve the following inequalities:
i) x <4
ii) x+3 <5
iii) x-1 < x+2
iv) 2x+1 > x-1
2 (a) Sketch y = x2 - 4 (b) Solve x2 - 4 >5
2
3 (a) On the same axis sketch y = 2 x + 1 and y = .
x
(b) How many solutions are there to the equation
2
2x+1 = ?
x
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