SOLUTION: its all about non linear inequalities. (x-5)(x-4) is greater than or equal to 0.

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Question 476572: its all about non linear inequalities. (x-5)(x-4) is greater than or equal to 0.
Answer by Theo(13342) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
easiest way to answer this is to graph it.
graph%28400%2C400%2C-10%2C10%2C-20%2C20%2C%28x-5%29%2A%28x-4%29%29
that's if you have the graphing software that makes it easy.
from the graph, it looks like this equation will be less than 0 between 4 and 5.
that stands to reason.
since this is a quadratic equation that has already been solved for the roots, it should be easy to determine what points in this equation are above 0 or below 0 or at 0.
the equation you have to work with is:
(x-5)*(x-4) = 0
by setting the expression equal to 0, you are looking for the roots.
the roots becomes:
x = 4 and x = 5
those are the zero points of the graph.
you multiply the factors together to get the original quadratic equation that gave you (x-5)*(x-4.
(x-5)*(x-4) = x^2 - 4x -5x + 20
combine like terms and you get:
x^2 - 9x + 20
if you set this equal to 0, then it becomes the standard form of the quadratic equation.
you get x^2 - 9x + 20 = 0
the standard form of the quadratic equation is ax^2 + bx + c = 0
this makes:
a = 1
b = -9
c = 20
the min/max point of the quadratic equation is given by the equation:
x = -b/2a
this becomes:
x = -(-9)/2) which becomes:
x = 4.5
That's the x value of the min/max point.
the y value of the min/max point is given by:
y = f(4.5)
you replace x with 4.5 in the equation and you get:
y = x^2 -9x + 20 which becomes:
y = (4.5)^2 -9*4.5 + 20 which becomes:
y = -.-025
your min/max point is at the (x,y) coordinates of (4.5,-.025).
now you want to determine whether this is a min point or a max point.
this is because you didn't see the graph i just showed you above.
you haven't even drawn the graph yet.
you're working just from the equation.
you look at the exponent of the x^2 term.
if it is positive then the graph points down and opens up.
if it is negative then the graph points up and opens down.
if the graph points down, then the min/max point is a min point.
if the graph points up, then the min/max point is a max point.
the graph is pointing down because the coefficient of the x^2 term is positive.
that would be the a in ax^2 which was equal to 1.
so your graph is point down.
the roots of the eqution are at x = 4 and x = 5
the min point is negative.
it will stay negative between the roots and it will be positive outside of the roots.
your equation is therefore >= 0 when:
x < 4 or x > 5