AlgebraVery hardConstant that produces a given solution set
Algebra practice question
The solution set of the inequality a(x − 2) ≤ 4 is all x ≥ 0, where a is a constant. What is the value of a?
Answer: -2
For the set to be x ≥ 0, dividing by a must flip the sign, so a < 0, and then x − 2 ≥ 4/a, so 2 + 4/a = 0 → a = −2. Check: −2(x − 2) ≤ 4 → x − 2 ≥ −2 → x ≥ 0.
Common wrong answers
- If you answered 2
- 2 gives x − 2 ≤ 2, so x ≤ 4, the wrong direction.
- If you answered 4
- 4 gives x ≤ 3.
- If you answered -1
- −1 gives x ≥ −2.
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