Question

How do you solve `5a > -7 1/2`?

Answer 1

`a > -1.5` by KCF (Keep Change Flip) division.

Explanation:

To solve this, you would solve as if it was a normal equation.

To isolate `a` by itself, you must use the inverse of multiplication, which is division. We are going to divide each side by `5`, since it's the coefficient to `a`.

This is where it may look scary. `-7 1/2 / 5` is what you are trying to do. The first step to divide is to change each fraction into an improper fraction. `-7 1/2 => -15/2` and `5 => 5/1`.

This puts us with the equation `-15/2 -: 5/1`

The next step is called KCF, or Keep, Change, Flip. We Keep the first number, Change the division sign (to multiplication), and Flip the second number. The flip of the second number is simply just doing the reciprocal of it, so `5/1 => 1/5`.

Now you simply multiply out the fractions. `-15/2 * 1/5` which equals `-15/10` and simplifies to `-1 1/2 or -1.5`.

Your final answer is `a > -1.5`.