How do you solve #5 -2x < 7#?

1 Answer
smendyka
Dec 5, 2017

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, subtract #color(red)(5)# from each side of the inequality to isolate the #x# term while keeping the inequality balanced:

#5 - color(red)(5) - 2x < 7 - color(red)(5)#

#0 - 2x < 2#

#-2x < 2#

Now, divide each side of the inequality by #color(blue)(-2)# to solve for #x# while keeping the inequality balanced. However, because we are multiplying or dividing an inequality by a negative number we must reverse the inequality operator:

#(-2x)/color(blue)(-2) color(red)(>) 2/color(blue)(-2)#

#(color(blue)(cancel(color(black)(-2)))x)/cancel(color(blue)(-2)) color(red)(>) -1#

#x > -1#

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