# How do you solve m/-7< 1.2?

Apr 17, 2016

To solve this you would multiply both sides of the equation by -7 and change the $<$ sign to$>$.

#### Explanation:

When solving $\frac{m}{- 7} < 1.2$ it is important to remember that
if you multiply or divide by a negative number then the greater than or less than sign must be flipped.

## Method 1

Multiply each side by $- 7$ and flip the sign.

$\left(- 7\right) \frac{m}{- 7} < 1.2 \left(- 7\right)$

$m > - 8.4$

## Method 2

To solve without multiplying by a negative:

Multiply each side by 7:
$\left(7\right) \frac{m}{- 7} < 1.2 \left(7\right)$

$- m < 8.4$

Subtract $- m$ from each side of the inequality.
$0 < - m + 8.4$

Subtract -8.4 from each side of the inequality.
$- 8.4 < m$

which is the same as
$m > - 8.4$

## Check

Pick a value for $m$ and substitute it into the original inequality.
Since $0$ is greater than $- 8.4$ we can use that to test our answer.

$\frac{m}{- 7} < 1.2$

$\frac{0}{- 7} < 1.2$

$0 < 1.2$

Since this is a true statement our problem checks.