Solving x²-6x+8 > 0: Analyzing Quadratic Inequality with Graphs

Question

The following functions are graphed below:

f(x)=x26x+8 f(x)=x^2-6x+8

g(x)=4x17 g(x)=4x-17

For which values of x is

f(x)>0 true?

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Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the inequality f(x) > 0 , we first need to find the roots of the equation f(x)=x26x+8 f(x) = x^2 - 6x + 8 .

1. Find the roots of the quadratic equation:
The quadratic is x26x+8 x^2 - 6x + 8 . This can be factored into:
f(x)=(x2)(x4)=0 f(x) = (x - 2)(x - 4) = 0 .

2. Calculate the roots:
Setting each factor equal to zero gives the roots x=2 x = 2 and x=4 x = 4 .

3. Determine the intervals defined by these roots:
The roots divide the x-axis into three intervals: (,2) (-\infty, 2) , (2,4) (2, 4) , and (4,) (4, \infty) .

4. Test points in each interval to decide positivity:
- For x < 2 , select x=1 x = 1 : f(1) = 1^2 - 6(1) + 8 = 3 > 0 . Thus, f(x) > 0 in (,2) (-\infty, 2) .
- For 2 < x < 4 , select x=3 x = 3 : f(3) = 3^2 - 6(3) + 8 = -1 < 0 . Thus, f(x) < 0 in (2,4) (2, 4) .
- For x > 4 , select x=5 x = 5 : f(5) = 5^2 - 6(5) + 8 = 3 > 0 . Thus, f(x) > 0 in (4,) (4, \infty) .

Therefore, the solution to f(x) > 0 is when x < 2 or x > 4 .

The final solution is: x < 2, 4 < x .

Answer

x < 2, 4 < x