Porisma

Worked solution

Keep a denominator zero separate from allowed endpoints

Without using a calculator, solve 10/x≤19−6x10/x\le19-6x.

CJC · Lecture · Example 4

Make one rational expression

10/x−19+6x≤010/x-19+6x\le0 gives (10−19x+6x2)/x≤0(10-19x+6x^2)/x\le0, hence (3x−2)(2x−5)/x≤0(3x-2)(2x-5)/x\le0. The domain excludes x=0.

How did this part go?

Test signs and distinguish zeros from undefined inputs

Mark critical values 0,2/3,5/2. The interval signs are −,+,−,+. Choose negative intervals and valid zeros: x<0 or 2/3≤x≤5/2. The numerator zeros are included because the inequality is non-strict; the denominator zero is always excluded.

How did this part go?

Answer the source cross-multiplication prompt

The speech bubble asks whether x can simply be removed by cross-multiplying. The source remark explains that x may be positive or negative: multiplication by a positive x preserves the sign, while multiplication by a negative x reverses it. A sign diagram handles both cases together without silently dropping the negative-x solutions.

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Compare your sketch

Expand diagram

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The source sign line has critical values 0,2/3,5/2, signs minus, plus, minus, plus, an open denominator zero 0 and filled numerator zeros 2/3 and 5/2.
The source sign line has critical values 0,2/3,5/2, signs minus, plus, minus, plus, an open denominator zero 0 and filled numerator zeros 2/3 and 5/2.
The source sign line has critical values 0,2/3,5/2, signs minus, plus, minus, plus, an open denominator zero 0 and filled numerator zeros 2/3 and 5/2.

Common mistakes

Never include x=0. Multiplying by an expression of unknown sign requires separate sign cases.

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