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What can ensure a quality approach when analyzing elements such as water or soil? How about when making chocolate? Predetermined ranges for specific characteristics, that is. For instance, it is possible to use inequalities that involve absolute values to ensure the quality of a chocolate bar or in understanding elements of nature. Here, one-variable absolute value inequalities will be solved, and their solution sets will be drawn.

Catch-Up and Review

Challenge

Representing Water Temperature in Non-liquid States With Absolute Value Inequality

From the school yard to the kitchen, three states of water are observable at a moments notice: solid, liquid, and gas.

Three states of water

It is known that, at atmospheric pressure, water freezes at and vaporizes at

a Write the range of temperatures in which water is not liquid.
b Graph the given range of when water freezes and vaporizes.
c Write the absolute value inequality that describes this situation.
Explore

From Compound Inequalities to Absolute Value Inequalities

An inequality that results from combining two inequalities by using the the word and or the word or, is called a compound inequality. The applet shows compound inequalities and their solution sets. Examine the solution set for the indicated inequality and explore how it changes for different compound inequalities.
Interactive applet showing different compound inequalities and their solution set
Can these compound inequalities be represented in a different form? Is it possible to use an absolute value expression?
Discussion

Absolute Value Inequalities

An absolute value inequality is an inequality that involves the absolute value of an expression containing a variable. As with other inequalities, absolute value inequalities can be strict or non-strict.

Strict Absolute Value Inequalities Non-Strict Absolute Value Inequalities
If an absolute value inequality of the form can be seen as the set of all numbers that are greater than and less than Similarly, an absolute value inequality of the form can be seen as the set of all numbers that are greater than or equal to and less than or equal to
Likewise, if an absolute value inequality of the form can be seen as the set of all numbers that are less than or greater than Similarly, an absolute value inequality of the form can be seen as the set of all numbers that are less than or equal to or greater than or equal to
As with other inequalities, absolute value inequalities can be represented by an interval on a number line. Open points at the ends of the interval represent strict inequalities where the corresponding values are not included in the interval. Conversely, closed points represent non-strict inequalities and the corresponding values are included in the interval.
Interactive graph showing the solution set for similar strict and non-strict absolute value inequalities
If the absolute value inequality involves an expression of the form with rather than just the interval will be translated units to the right. Likewise, if the expression is of the form the interval will be translated units to the left.
Interactive graph showing the effects of adding a constant to the argument of the absolute value on the solution set
Method

Solving an Absolute Value Inequality

Using the definition of absolute value, an absolute value inequality can be written as a compound inequality. Therefore, solving absolute value inequalities is quite similar to solving compound inequalities. To detail the reasoning, the following inequality will be solved.
There are four steps to follow.
1
Isolate the Absolute Value Expression
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To be able to rewrite the given inequality as a compound inequality, the absolute value expression should be isolated first. To do so, the Properties of Inequalities and inverse operations will be used.
Here, the number on the other side of the absolute value is positive. However, it should be noted that if that number were negative, then the inequality either has no solution or all real numbers as a solution depending on the inequality symbol.
Since the absolute value of an expression is always non-negative, should be greater than or equal to Therefore, all real numbers satisfy and there is no value which satisfies
2
Rewrite It as a Compound Inequality
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Now, the absolute value inequality will be rewritten. It represents the set of all numbers that are less than or greater than
3
Solve the Individual Inequalities
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Next, the individual inequalities will be solved by adding to both sides of the inequalities.
The solution set of Inequality I contains all real numbers less than The solutions to Inequality II are all real numbers greater than
4
Combine the Solution Sets
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The combination of the solution sets for the individual inequalities is the solution set of the given absolute value inequality. Since the derived compound inequality was combined with the word or, the combination of the solution sets is also written with that word.
Example

Representing Acceptable Chocolate Weights Using an Absolute Value Inequality

Izabella goes on a tour of a chocolate factory. They aim to produce chocolate bars weighing grams. A machine at the factory weighs chocolates chosen at random. The bars must not deviate from the predetermined weight by more than grams. Otherwise, the machine has to send them back.

Chocolate bar
a Write a range of allowable weights for a chocolate bar using a compound inequality.
b Graph the range on a number line.
c Write an absolute value inequality that describes this situation.

Answer

a
b Graph:
Graph of the compound inequality
c

Hint

a Determine the maximum and minimum acceptable weights.
b Should the solution set contain the maximum and minimum values?
c Which inequality symbol should be used?

Solution

a For a chocolate bar to be sent back, the difference between the weight of the chocolate bar and the predetermined weight is more than grams. Therefore, an acceptable weight for a chocolate bar, not to be sent back, must be greater than or equal to grams.
At the same time, it must weigh less than or equal to grams.
Consequently, the combination of these individual inequalities will result in a compound inequality describing the range of acceptable weights.
b The inequality is the set of values which are greater than or equal to Since the inequality sign is non-strict, itself is included.
w-values greater than or equal to 88 on a numberline

The other inequality represents all the points to the left of Again, the inequality sign is non-strict, so is included.

w-values less than or equal to 98 on a numberline

Because the inequalities are combined using word and, the solution set of the resulting compound inequality is equal to the union of the solution sets of the individual inequalities. Therefore, the graph of the acceptable weight range is the combination of the graphs.

c Any chocolate bar that varies from the predetermined weight by more than grams is sent back. Therefore, the absolute value of the difference between the weight of a bar and the predetermined weight should be less than or equal to This can be expressed as follows.
Since this absolute value inequality can be rewritten as the compound inequality obtained in the previous steps, both have the same set of solutions.
Example

Writing an Absolute Value Inequality to Define a Range of Prices

Izabella, looking around the chocolate factory, discovers a room full of chocolate fondue fountains on sale for special events! The prices are high and they vary significantly. She decides to make a list of the prices to see which is a fair price.

List of phone prices
a To define a fair price, Izabella decides a fondue with a price within of the average price of all the fondues is fair. Write an absolute value inequality describing the situation. Which prices meet this condition?
b Izabella decides to narrow the range. She thinks that a fondue that is no more than above the average price is what is really fair. Write an absolute value inequality for this case and determine the prices that meet this condition.

Answer

a Absolute Value Inequality:
Prices: and
b Absolute Value Inequality:
Price:

Hint

a The average price of the chocolate fondues is the sum of the prices divided by the number of prices. The absolute value of the difference between the amount of money Izabella thinks is fair and the average price should be less than
b The absolute value of the difference between the amount of money Izaballa thinks is fair and the average price should be less than or equal to

Solution

a To find the average price of the chocolate fondues, the sum of the prices will be divide by the number of prices,
Evaluate right-hand side
Since Izabella thinks a fair amount is within of the average price of the difference between the amount Izabella thinks is fair and the average price should be less than Therefore, the absolute value of the difference between and the average price is less than
By solving this absolute value inequality, the chocolate fondues satisfying this condition can be determined. To do so, first rewrite it as a compound inequality and then solve for
The chocolate fondues whose prices are within this range are fair prices.
List of phone prices
As seen, prices meet Izabella's condition.
b In the previous part, the average price of the fondue's was found to be Now, the range is narrowed to The absolute value of the difference between and should be less than or equal to
By solving the inequality, the fondue prices satisfying this condition can be determined.
The fondue prices are within this range are those which Izabella would consider to be priced fairly.
List of phone prices
There is only one price that meets Izabella's condition.
Example

Representing the Temperature of Mars With an Absolute Value Inequality

Izabella learns that the factory has future plans to develop packaging that can withstand the harshest conditions, including Mars! The temperature of the surface of Mars reaches its highest value at the equator where it is less than Mars reaches its lowest temperature at the poles where it is always greater than

Write an absolute value inequality for the range of possible temperature values on Mars.

Hint

Start by writing a compound inequality for the possible temperature values on Mars.

Solution

From the given information, the temperature on Mars is always less than but greater than
These individual inequalities can be combined to form an equivalent compound inequality that describe the possible temperatures on Mars.
To write this compound inequality as an absolute value inequality, the midpoint between and on the number line should be found. Let be the distance to the midpoint.
Graph of -144< t < 32 showing the distance d from the endpoints to their midpoint
To find half of the difference between the endpoints will be calculated.
Simplify right-hand side
The distance to the midpoint from the endpoints is Therefore, the midpoint is the number
Midpoint of the endpoints and distance to the midpoint
The points that are within units of the midpoint represent the range can be written as the following absolute inequality. Note that since the endpoints are not included, the inequality should be strict.
Now that Izabella has this information, she is even more impressed with the chocolate factory!
Example

Representing a Salary Range With an Absolute Value Inequality

At this special chocolate factory the average salary for a Chocolatier is a whopping

Average salary for a new agent

As a company policy, a new Chocolatier's actual salary can only differ from the company average by less than

a Write and solve an absolute value inequality to find a range for the possible salaries for a new Chocolatier. Draw the range on a number line.
b Write an absolute value inequality for the salaries that are not offered to new Chocolatiers.

Answer

a Absolute Value Inequality:

Range:

Graph:
Graph of the absolute value inequality
b Absolute Value Inequality:

Hint

a The absolute value of the difference between the salary for a new Chocolatier and the average salary of any Chocolatier is less than
b Use the graph drawn in the part A.

Solution

a This special chocolate factory pays a new Chocolatier's salary within of the company's average salary of This means that the absolute value of the difference between the salary for a new employee and the average salary of any Chocolatier is less than
By solving this absolute value inequality, the range for the possible salaries can be found. To do so, the inequality will be rewritten.
The solution set of the inequality is the set of values between and Since the inequality sign is strict, those numbers are not included.
Graph of the solution set for the inequality: absolute value of s-45700 less than 1250, using open points for the endpoints
b Consider the graph of the absolute value inequality found in Part A.
Graph of the solution set for the inequality: absolute value of s-45700 less than 1250

The values that are more than units away from the average salary in the number line, need to be represented by an absolute value inequality.

Graphs showing the set of values lower or equal to 44500, or greater than 47000
These values can be written as the following absolute value inequality.
Pop Quiz

Determining an Absolute Value Inequality From Its Graph

Analyze the given graph and determine the corresponding absolute value inequality.

Graph of an absolute value inequality and four possible inequalities
Closure

Representing Water Temperature in Non-liquid States With Absolute Value Inequality

In this lesson, the relationship between absolute value inequalities and compound inequalities has been explained using real-world examples. Considering those examples, the challenge presented at the beginning can now be solved seamlessly.

Three states of water

It is known that, at atmospheric pressure, water freezes at and vaporizes at

a Write the range of temperatures in which water is not liquid.
b Graph this range.
c Write the absolute value inequality that describes this situation.

Answer

a or
b Graph:
Graph of the compound inequality
c

Hint

a Determine the values of temperature that water freezes or vaporizes.
b Does the solution set contain the numbers and
c Find the middle point between and on the number line.

Solution

a Water is not liquid when it is in frozen form nor when it is vapor form. Noting the given information, it is known that, at atmospheric pressure, water is not liquid for temperatures less than or greater than
The values and are not included because at these temperatures water starts to change its physical state and the liquid form of water can be present in both states of the transition. Under these conditions, the following compound inequality shows the temperatures in which water is not a liquid.
b The compound inequality is the combination of two inequalities. The inequality shows the set of values less than Since the inequality sign is strict, the value is not included.
t-values less than 32 on a numberline

The other inequality represents all of the points to the right of Again, the inequality sign is strict, so is not included.

t-values greater than 212 on a numberline

Since the inequalities were combined with the word or, the solution set of the resulting compound inequality is the union of the solutions sets of the two individual inequalities. Therefore, the graph of the range is the combination of the above graphs.

Graph of the compound inequality
c To write the absolute value equation, the midpoint between and on the number line should be found. To do so, half the difference between these numbers will be calculated.
The midpoint is units away from the endpoints. Therefore, the midpoint is
Midpoint between 32 and 212
The points that are further away in units than the calculated distance of represent the range, which can be written as the following absolute inequality.
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