63.2k views
4 votes
For what real values of x is -4<x^4+4x^2<21? Express your answer in interval notation.

Thanks!

1 Answer

4 votes

The expression in x is always greater than or equal to zero (because x to an even power is never negative). Hence the limit -4 is irrelevant and we only need to consider the limit 21.

After subtracting 21, the expression can be factored as

... x⁴ +4x² -21 < 0

... (x²+7)(x²-3) < 0

... (x²+7)(x+√3)(x-√3) < 0 . . . . . factoring the difference of squares

The left factor is always positive, so the expression will be negative when one, but not both, of the factors involving √3 is negative. That happens when

... -√3 < x < √3

In interval notation: (-√3, √3).

For what real values of x is -4<x^4+4x^2<21? Express your answer in interval-example-1
User Bhavnik
by
6.0k points