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 form. To solve them, one must determine where the rational expression is positive, negative, or zero. This often requires finding critical points where the numerator or denominator equals zero, which helps in analyzing the sign of the expression across different intervals.
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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 (2, 5] includes all numbers greater than 2 and up to 5, including 5 but not 2.
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Sign Analysis
Sign analysis is a method used to determine the sign (positive or negative) of a rational expression over different intervals. After identifying critical points, one tests values from each interval to see if the expression is positive or negative. This helps in establishing the solution set for the inequality based on where the expression meets the specified condition.
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