Math 121 Notes
Chapter 0
Section 0.1 (Inequalities)
Definitions
Rational Numbers: A number that can be expressed as the quotient of two integers
Examples: 1, 5, -4, -8 ,
, 3.45, 2.346
Irrational Numbers: A number that can not be expressed as the quotient of two integers,
Examples: ![]()
Examples for the
textbook page 0-7
2) - 3678 ( This is a rational number)
4)
(This number is
irrational)
6)
(This number is
rational)
10)
(This number is
irrational)
Inequalities
Symbols

Solving Inequalities
Inequality Properties
Transitive Property
![]()
Addition Property for Inequalities ![]()
Multiplication properties for Inequalities
(If c is positive, then
)
(If c is negative, then
)
Subtraction property for Inequalities ![]()
Examples of solving
inequalities
1) Solve ![]()

2) Solve ![]()

3) Solve

Compound Inequalities
4) Solve
![]()

Examples from the book
#20 page 0-7
Solve ![]()

#22 Solve![]()

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Section 0.2
Absolute Values and Inequalities
Introduction to
Interval Notation
- Positive Infinity
- Negative Infinity
( ) –open point
[ ] – closed point
|
Inequality |
Graph |
Interval |
|
|
-3 0 4 |
[-3,4] |
|
|
-2 0 5 |
[-2,5] |
|
|
0 3 |
|
|
|
2 0 |
|
Rules for absolute
value expressions with inequalities

Examples
1) Solve
![]()

![]()
|
-3 0 3
Interval: ![]()
2)
Solve ![]()

3) Solve
![]()

4) Solve ![]()

5) Solve
![]()

Examples from page 0-12
10) Write (-7,1) as an inequality expression with absolute values.
d=3 d=3
| |
|
![]()
ş | ş
-7 -4 1
12) Write
as an inequality
expression with absolute values.
![]()
|----|----|
![]()
![]()
|
20 22 24
#6 page 0-12
(-3,3) as an inequality expression with absolute values

Examples
1) Solve
![]()

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Section 0.3
Exponents and Radicals
Definition of an Exponent
Define ![]()
Examples

Properties for
Exponents

![]()
Examples
1) Simplify
2) Simplify ![]()
3) Simplify ![]()
Operations with
Exponents

Examples
1) Simplify
(Rule 9)
2) Simplify
(Rule 7)
3) Simplify
(Rules 7 and 9)
4) Simplify
(Rule 6)
5) Simplify
(Rule 8)
More Examples
6) Simplify ![]()
7) Simplify ![]()
8) Simplify ![]()
9) Simplify ![]()
Examples from the book page 0-18
4) Evaluate
where x = 4
![]()
8) Evaluate
where x = 3
![]()
14) Evaluate
where x = 16

22) Simplify ![]()
26) Simplify ![]()
28) Simplify ![]()
34) Simplify ![]()
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Section 0.4
Factoring Polynomials
Types of Factoring
1) Factor by taking out a Greatest Common Factor (GFC)
2) Factor a trinomial as two binomials.
3) Factor a binomial as a difference of two squares
4) Factor a binomial as a difference of cubes or a sum of cubes
5) Factor by grouping
Factoring out a
Greatest Common Factor
Taking out a greatest common factor is essentially the same as working the distributive property backwards.
Review of distributive property
![]()
Examples of factoring out a greatest common factor
1) Factor
![]()
2) Factor ![]()
3) Factor
![]()
![]()
4)
Factor ![]()
![]()
Factoring a
trinomial as two binomials
Factoring a trinomial is the same as working the FOIL process
So, here is a short review of FOIL

Examples of factoring a trinomial as two binomials
1) Factor
![]()
In this example you want to find two numbers that multiply to get 25 and add to get
10. By using x as the first entry in each binomial you get:
![]()
Here are some similar examples
2) Factor
![]()
Answer:
Hint: Find two numbers that multiply to get 24 and
add to get -10
3) Factor
Answer:
Hint: Find two integers that multiply two get -35
and add
to get -2. -7,5
4) Factor
Answer:
![]()
5) Factor
![]()
Answer: ![]()
Factor a binomial
as a difference of squares
Examples
1) Factor
![]()
Answer:
Hint: Basically use the FOIL process backwards again and find two integers that multiply to
get -4 and add to get zero. This process
will cancel out the x-terms.
Check:
Other similar examples
2) Factor
Answer: ![]()
3) Factor
![]()
Answer: ![]()
4) Factor
![]()
Answer:

General Form of a
Difference of Squares: ![]()
Difference of Cubes
and sum of Cubes
Main formulas
Difference of Two
Cubes
![]()
Sum of Two Cubes
![]()
Examples
1) Factor ![]()
Answer:

2) Factor ![]()
Answer:

3)

4)

Factoring by
Grouping
Examples
1) Factor
![]()
Solution:
Factor out a
from the first two terms and -4 from the last two terms
Factor out (x – 2)
form both terms
Similar types of examples
2) Factor
Solution:

3) Factor
![]()
Solution:

Don’t forget that
is a difference of squares
Solving Polynomial and Quadratic Equations
1) Solve
![]()

2) Solve
![]()

3) Solve ![]()

4) Solve ![]()

5) Solve
2

6) Solve
![]()

7) Solve ![]()

8) Solve

9) Solve
