The denominator is the only thing not factored, so factor it The critical numbers are the zeros of all the factors: 0, , -1, 1, 2 Arrange them in numerical order: -1, 0, 1, , 2 -1, 0, 1, , 2 and put them on a number line: -----------o----o----o--o-o------ -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 Choose test values less than the least, in between them, and greater than the greatest: Test values: -2, -0.5, 0.5, 1.5, 1.9, 3 If the test value gives when substituted in the open interval which the test value is in is part of the solution; otherwise it's not. Substituting -2 gives 161.333... which is , so is part of the solution. Substituting -0.5 gives 0.176... which is , so is part of the solution. Substituting 0.5 gives 2.296... which is , so is part of the solution. Substituting 1.5 gives -31.64... which is , so is NOT part of the solution. Substituting 1.9 gives -596.71... which is , so is NOT part of the solution. Substituting 3 gives 10368 which is , so is part of the solution. The critical numbers from the numerator 0,5/3, and -1 satisfy the given inequality since "equal to 0" is allowed. However the critical numbers from the denominator, 1 and 2, do not. Solution set: Edwin