Trivial Inequality: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:50, 17 June 2006

The Inequality

The trivial inequality states that $x^2 >= 0$ for all x. This is a rather useful inequality for proving that certain quantities are non-negative. The inequality appears to be obvious and unimportant, but it can be a very powerful problem solving technique.

Applications

Maximizing and minimizing quadratic functions

After Completing the square, the trivial inequality can be applied to determine the extrema of a quadratic function.

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 '''Maximizing and minimizing quadratic functions'''
-Let <math>f(x)=ax^2+bx+c</math> be a function of degree two, that is, a quadratic function, where <math>a\in\{1,-1\}</math>. If <math>{a}=1</math>, then <math>{f}</math> has only a minimum; if <math>a=-1</math>, then <math>{f}</math> has only a maximum. We can 'complete the square' in this function as follows:
+After [[Completing the square]], the trivial inequality can be applied to determine the extrema of a quadratic function.
-<math>ax^2+bx+c = a\left(x+\frac{b}{2}\right)^2-a\cdot \frac{b^2}{4}+c</math>
-By the trivial inequality, the minimum/maximum is then easily determined [too lazy to explain].

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Trivial Inequality: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:50, 17 June 2006

The Inequality

Applications