Polynomial and Rational Inequalities

1 Interval Notation
Let us recall the interval notation for sets of real numbers:

• (a, b) = {x ∈ R : a < x < b}

• (a, b] = {x ∈ R : a < x ≤ b}

• [a, b) = {x ∈ R : a ≤ x < b}

• [a, b] = {x ∈ R : a ≤ x ≤ b}

• (a, +∞) = {x ∈ R : a < x}

• [a, +∞) = {x ∈ R : a ≤ x}

• (−∞, b) = {x ∈ R : x < b}

• (−∞, b] = {x ∈ R : x ≤ b}

• (−∞, ∞) = R, which is the set of all real numbers.

2 Inequalities Involving Polynomials and Rational Expres-

sions
The BASIC idea here is the following

XY > 0 is equivalent to: (X > 0 and Y > 0) OR (X < 0 and Y < 0)

XY < 0 is equivalent to: (X > 0 and Y < 0) OR (X < 0 and Y > 0)

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 Take note of the conjunctions AND and OR and the placements of the parantheses! These cor-
respond to the SET OPERATIONS of taking UNIONS(=OR) and INTERSECTIONS(=AND)
in a certain order.

Steps in Solving Polynomial and Rational Inequalities:

1. Express the inequality in any of the following forms:

f (x) > 0, f (x) ≥ 0, f (x) < 0, or f (x ≤ 0)

where f (x) is either a polynomial expression or a rational expression (it must be a single
fraction). Note that any of the forms above indicate that the expression f (x) is on the left
side and zero is on the right side.

2. Factor the polynomial expression. In the case of a rational expression, factor the numerator
and the denominator.

3. Determine the real values of the variable x at which f (x) = 0 or f (x) is undefined. These
values are called partition numbers.

4. Use the values found in Step 3 to divide the real number line into open intervals.

5. Construct the Table of Signs. Determine the sign (positive or negative) of each factor of
f (x) in each interval. You may do this by taking a number from the interval and substitute
to the factors obtained.

6. Determine the sign of f (x) in each interval by taking the product and/or quotient of the
signs determined by the factors.

7. Use the sign of f (x) to determine which interval/s satisfy the given inequality. The union
of these intervals constitute the solution set. Express the solution set using interval
notation.

Notes:

1. Include the endpoints of the intervals in the solution set of a polynomial inequality of the
form f (x) ≥ 0 or f (x) ≤ 0.

2. For rational inequalities of the form f (x) ≥ 0 or f (x) ≤ 0, include in the solution set only
those endpoints of the intervals that make the numerator equal to zero.

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 Worked Examples

1. Solve for the values of x so that

(2x − 1)(x + 1) > 0.

Solution.

Case 1. 2x − 1 > 0 and x + 1 > 0.

Then x > 1
2
and x > −1. The only real numbers x satisfying both these two inequalities
are those for which x > 21 .

OR

Case 2. 2x − 1 < 0 and x + 1 < 0

Then x < 1
2
and x < −1. The only real numbers x satisfying both of these inequalities are
those for which x < −1.

Therefore, the solution set is {x ∈ R : x < −1 OR x > 12 }. We write this in interval

notation:  
1
(−∞, −1) ∪ , +∞ .
2

Let us use the Table of Signs:

The partition numbers are x = −1, 12

1
−1 2

x+1 − + +
2x − 1 − − +
sign of (x + 1)(2x − 1) + − +

Again, this gives the solution set:

 
1
(−∞, −1) ∪ , +∞ .
2

2. Solve the inequality 4x2 ≤ 9.

Solution.

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 First, we write the inequality as 4x2 − 9 ≤ 0 and then we factor the left side as 4x2 − 9 =
(2x + 3)(2x − 3), so that the inequality becomes

(2x + 3)(2x − 3) ≤ 0.

Case 1. 2x + 3 ≤ 0 and 2x − 3 ≥ 0

Then x ≤ − 32 and x ≥ 23 . But no real number x satisfies these inequalities. Therefore, the
solution set for this first case is ∅

OR

Case 2. 2x + 3 ≥ 0 and 2x − 3 ≤ 0

Then x ≥ − 23 and x ≤ 23 . The solution set here, in interval notation is, − 32 , 32

 

Thus, the solution set for the original inequality is the union of the solution sets in Case
1 and Case 2:  
3 3
− , .
2 2

Table of Signs:

The partition numbers are x = − 23 , 23

− 32 3
2

2x + 3 − + +
2x − 3 − − +
sign of (2x + 3)(2x − 3) + − +

Again, this gives the solution set:  

3 3
− , .
2 2

2x
3. ≥0
x2− 6x − 16
Solution.

The factorization of the denominator of the rational expression gives

2x
R(x) = ≥ 0.
(x + 2)(x − 8)

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 The partition numbers are x = −2, 0, 8 for the factors x + 2, 2x, x − 8, respectively. The
table of signs consists of lining up the partition numbers in increasing order, just like their
positions on the real line. We have in this case, four intervals (−∞, −2), (−2, 0), (0, 8) and
(8, +∞), on which to determine the signs of R(x).

−2 0 8

x+2 − + + +
2x − − + +
x−8 − − − +
sign of R(x) − + − +

As the table indicates, on the interval (−∞, −2), R(x) takes on negative values. This is
the product of three negative factors comprising R(x), as indicated in the table, while on
the interval (−2, 0), R(x) > 0. R(x) = 0 at x = 0. R(x) < 0 on (0, 8) and R(x) > 0 on
(8, +∞). We need to include x = 0 because R(x) ≥ 0 includes the equation R(x) = 0.

Therefore, the solution of the inequality R(x) ≥ 0 is the set

(−2, 0] ∪ (8, +∞).

4. 2x4 ≥ 3x3 + 9x2

Solution

• Step 1. 2x4 ≥ 3x3 + 9x2

P (x) = 2x4 − 3x3 − 9x2 ≥ 0

• Step 2. x2 (2x2 − 3x − 9) ≥ 0
P (x) = x2 (2x + 3)(x − 3) ≥ 0

• Step 3. Partition numbers: x = − 32 , 0, 3

• Step 4. The intervals to consider are: (−∞, − 32 ), (− 23 , 0), (0, 3), (3, +∞)

• Step 5. Table of Signs:

− 23 0 3

2x + 3 − + + +
x2 + + + +
x−3 − − − +
sign of P (x) + − − +

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 • Step 6. Solution Set:  
3
−∞, − ∪ [3, +∞)
2
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5. Solve <2
x+3
Solution.

• Step 1. Make one side of the inequality zero. Do not cross multiply!

7
−2<0
x+3
• Step 2. Write the expression as single fraction:

7 2(x + 3) 1 − 2x
f (x) = − < 0 ⇐⇒ f (x) = <0
x+3 x+3 x+3
• Step 3. Partition numbers: −3, 12
• Step 4. The intervals to consider are (−∞, −3), −3, 12 , 1



2
, +∞
• Step 5. Table of signs:
1
−3 2

1 − 2x + + −
x+3 − + +
sign of f (x) − + −
• Step 6. Solution set:

 
1
(−∞, −3) ∪ , +∞
2
2x + 3
6. This is a more advanced problem: Solve ≤ x.
x
Solution
2x + 3
Warning: Do NOT cross-multiply! The inequality ≤ x is NOT equivalent to
x
2x + 3 ≤ x2 ! The basic idea is to collect all terms so that only 0 remains on the right hand
side. Thus,
2x + 3 2x + 3 − x2 −x2 + 2x + 3
− x ≤ 0 ⇐⇒ = ≤0
x x x

Now, multiply both sides by −1 to obtain

x2 − 2x − 3 (x − 3)(x + 1)
≥ 0 ⇐⇒ R(x) = ≥ 0.
3 x

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 Using now the method of signs, with x = −1, 0, 3 as the critical numbers, we get

−1 0 3

x+1 - + + +
x - - + +
x−3 - - - +
sign of R(x) - + - +

The solution set is

[−1, 0) ∪ [3, +∞).

5 − 3x
7. (A compound Inequality) Solve −3 < < −1
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Solution.
5 − 3x
−3 < < −1 ⇐⇒ −18 < 5 − 3x < −6 ⇐⇒ −23 < −3x < −11 ⇐⇒ 11 < 3x <
6
23 ⇐⇒ 11
3
< x < 23
3
.

In the step −23 < 3x < −11 ⇐⇒ 11 < 3x < 23, the inequalities are reversed due to the
multiplication of a negative number, −1.

In interval notation, the solution set is

 
11 23
, .
3 3