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Printjmc
algebra intermediate
Problem
Find the largest integer value of such that is negative.
Solution
Writing this as an inequality, we get the expression Since 3 and 6 are roots of the quadratic, the inequality must change sign at these two points. Thus, we continue by testing the 3 intervals of . For , both factors of the inequality are negative, thus making it positive. For , only is negative, so the inequality is negative. Finally, for , both factors are positive, making the inequality positive once again. This tells us that the range of that satisfy the inequality is . Since the question asks for the largest integer value of , the answer is the largest integer smaller than 6, which is .
Final answer
5