+130548 Let the shorter leg = x so...the longer leg = x + 2
And we have that
(1/2)(x)(x + 2) ≥ 4 multiply both sides by 2
x(x+2) ≥ 8 simplify
x^2 +2x - 8 ≥ 0 let's just use a graphical method to solve this.....here's the graph...
https://www.desmos.com/calculator/gooq4e4ucf
We must reject any negative values for x and we must also reject any values in the interval [0, 2) because these values make the inequality < 0...thus...the values that solve the inequality are found in the interval [2, ∞ )
+130548 Here's the graph........https://www.desmos.com/calculator/brwx1waam2
f(x) = 4 when x = about 2.6...proof 1.7^2.6 = about 3.973
We could go through an iteration process, but here's a better way (hey, they said we could take shortcuts, didn't they??)
x = log(4) / log(1.7) = 2.612552871704276....I'm not that familiar with significant figures, so I'll let you trim as many off this as you need
And f(x) = 0.5 when x = about -1.3.....proof 1.7^(-1.3) = about 0.5016
Again....instead of an iteration process, use this
x = log(0.5) / log(1.7) = -1.306276435852138...again I'll let you worry about the sig figs
I think that's most of it....
