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TMUA 2016 · Paper 2 · Question 8 of 20

TMUA 2016 Paper 2 Question 8

Inequalities and reasoning — Combining linear inequalities · what does and does not follow. Try it first; the answer and a full worked solution are below.

TMUA 2016 · Paper 2Inequalities and reasoningCombining linear inequalities · what does and does not follow8 options
A region is defined by the inequalities x + y > 6 and x − y > −4.

Consider the three statements:

1   x > 1
2   y > 5
3   (x+y)(x−y) > −24

Which of the above statements is/are true for every point in the region?

  1. Anone
  2. B1 only
  3. C2 only
  4. D3 only
  5. E1 and 2 only
  6. F1 and 3 only
  7. G2 and 3 only
  8. H1, 2 and 3
Show the answer and worked solution
answer · B
  1. Anone
  2. B1 only
  3. C2 only
  4. D3 only
  5. E1 and 2 only
  6. F1 and 3 only
  7. G2 and 3 only
  8. H1, 2 and 3
Adding the two inequalities gives 2x > 2, so statement 1 always holds. Statement 2 fails at (10, 0): there x+y = 10 > 6 and x − y = 10 > −4, yet y is not greater than 5. Statement 3 is the trap: multiplying x+y > 6 by x−y > −4 is not legitimate because x−y can be negative. Take x + y = 100 and x − y = −3.9 (that is x = 48.05, y = 51.95), which lies in the region; the product is −390, far below −24. So only statement 1.