<PRE><B>Question 1208929</B>
&lt;br&gt;
The prescribed values for x are defined by&lt;br&gt;
{{{abs(x+1)&lt;=3}}}
{{{-3&lt;=x+1&lt;=3}}}
{{{-4&lt;=x&lt;=2}}}&lt;br&gt;
The interval of x values is thus [-4,2].&lt;br&gt;
For all the values of x in that interval, x+5 is positive, so 1/(x+5) is positive and monotonically decreasing.  So the maximum value of 1/(x+5) on [-4,2] is at the left end of the interval and the minimum value is at the right end of the interval.&lt;br&gt;
ANSWERS:&lt;br&gt;
a = minimum value = 1/(2+5) = 1/7
b = maximum value = 1/(-4+5) = 1/1 = 1&lt;br&gt;
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