Grade 9 · Math

Solve an inequality with a negative coefficient

The idea

Isolate the variable term and identify the sign of its coefficient.

Step by step

Isolate the variable term and identify the sign of its coefficient.
Divide both sides by the negative coefficient and reverse the inequality symbol.
Test a value in the solution set and the excluded boundary in the original inequality.

Answer

x < 3

Divide both sides by -2. Dividing by a negative reverses the inequality, giving x < 3.

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Try it together

Solve −3x > 12, graph the solution on a number line and test one value on each side of the boundary.

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