Lesson Plan: May 17, 2018

Topic: Rational Inequalities

Objectives:

1. To teach the difference of rational equations and rational inequalities

2. To properly introduce the concept of rational inequalities
3. To teach how to solve rational inequalities in an orderly manner

Time: 1 hour

Materials: Pen and paper (taking notes and answering activities)

Procedure:

1. Ask the students if they are familiar with rational expressions and equations and
the factoring and special products methods. If they are not familiar, provide a
short review.

Rational Expressions is a fraction where the numerator and denominator are

polynomials.

Difference from a polynomial expression: variable is present in the

denominator for a rational expression.
Polynomial Expression Rational Expression
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1
𝑥+2

Rational Equations are equations containing at least one fraction whose

numerator and denominator are polynomials.

Difference from a polynomial equation: variable is present in the

denominator of at least one fraction for the rational equation.
Polynomial Equation Rational Equation
𝑥 1 5
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1 = +2=
7 𝑥+2 𝑥

Factoring and Special Products is commonly used in solving rational equations

and inequalities.
FACTORING
Common Monomial Factor 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑎𝑦 = 𝑎 (𝑥 + 𝑦)
Difference of Two Squares 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 = (𝑥 + 𝑦)(𝑥 − 𝑦)
Factoring of a Trinomial 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2 = (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 1)
Etc.
SPECIAL PRODUCTS
FOIL Method (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 1) = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 1 = 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2
2. Provide the difference between rational equation and rational inequalities.

Rational Equation:
1
= 3 → 1 = 3(𝑥 + 3) → allowed
𝑥+3

Rational Inequalities:
2
≥ 1 → 2 ≥ 1(𝑥 + 3) → not allowed, the sign of x+3 is still unknown. If it turns out
𝑥+3
to be negative, we need to change ≥ 𝑡𝑜 ≤.

3. Explain concepts of solving rational inequalities and enumerate general steps on

how to solve it.

a. Goals
i. Find the value/s of x which makes the inequality true.
ii. Find the value/s of x which makes the inequality undefined.

b. General Steps on how to solve Rational Inequalities

i. If the left or the right side of the inequality contains addition and
subtraction, combine them to a single fraction with the use of LCD.
ii. Factor all the factorable polynomials in the numerator and
denominator in both sides of the inequality.
iii. Cancel all similar factors in the numerator and the denominator.
Do it for the left side and the right side of the inequality. Note: if a
similar factor is found in the left side and the right side of the
inequality, DO NOT CANCEL IT.
iv. Find all the value/s of x which will make the numerator and
denominator equal to zero. These are the values where the rational
expression might change signs.
v. From the number line, choose one test points in each region, solve
for the inequality.
• If the inequality is true, the region is a solution set of the
rational inequality.
• The value/s of x obtained in iv. is included in the solution set
if the inequality has either ≥ 𝑜𝑟 ≤., otherwise, it is not.
• The value/s of x which will make the rational inequality
undefined is NOT INCLUDED in the solution set.

4. Show examples on how to solve rational inequalities following the general steps.

Examples:
𝑥+1
• ≤ 0 (show solutions following the general steps)→Answer: [-1,5)
𝑥−5
2
𝑥 +4𝑥+3
• > 0 (show solutions following the general steps) →Answer: (-3,-
𝑥−1
1)U(1, ∞)
 5. Let the students answer some exercises and after around 10 minutes, explain
how to answer the problems in the board.

Exercises:
3𝑥+1 3
• ≥ 1 →Answer: (-∞,-4)U[ , ∞)
𝑥+4 2
𝑥 2 −16
• < 0 →Answer: (-4,1)U(1,4)
(𝑥−1)2
𝑥−8
• < 3 − 𝑥 →Answer: (-∞,-2)U(0,4)
𝑥

6. Provide some items they can answer at home.

Homework:
2𝑢+3
• >0
𝑢+6
3−𝑧
• < −2
𝑧+1
𝑥 2 +9𝑥+14
• ≤0
𝑥−1

Prepared by:

CHRISTIAN S. GALOPE

For teaching demonstration purposes only.