
If you add or subtract by a negative or positive number, you do not switch the sign. If you divide or multiply by a negative number, you switch the sign. You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Does the inequality sign change when you subtract from a graph?
Does the inequality sign change when you are you subtracting? No, if you subtract the same value from both sides of inequality. If you have two ropes, one longer than another, and you cut the same piece from both, what remains from a longer rope will still be longer than what remains from a shorter one.
How do you solve inequalities with negative numbers?
Let’s try another example of solving inequalities with negatives. Anytime you multiply or divide both sides of the inequality, you must “flip” or change the direction of the inequality sign. Solve the inequality. Subtract 4 4 4 from both sides.
How do you flip an inequality sign?
Now isolate the x on the left side by moving the constant, 6, to the other side of the inequality. To do this, subtract 6 from both sides. Now divide both sides of the inequality by −3. Since you're dividing by a negative number, you need to flip the inequality sign.
Does adding the same number to each side of an inequality?
Adding the same number to each side of an inequality does not change the direction of the inequality symbol. We solve inequalities the same way we solve equations, except that when we multiply or divide both sides of the inequality by a negative number, we have to do something special to it.

When do you flip the inequality sign?
Flip the inequality sign when you multiply or divide both sides of an inequality by a negative number. You also often need to flip the inequality sign when solving inequalities with absolute values.
How to isolate the x on the left side of an inequality?
Now isolate the x on the left side by moving the constant, 6, to the other side of the inequality. To do this, subtract 6 from both sides.
Is absolute value always positive?
The output of an absolute value expression is always positive, but the " x " inside the absolute value signs might be negative, so we need to consider the case when x is negative. We're essentially multiplying by −1: we're multiplying x by negative one on the left (but since it's inside absolute value signs the outcome is still positive), and then we're multiplying the right side by negative one and switching the inequality sign because we just multiplied by a negative.
Do you multiply and divide the same?
The same rule would apply if you're multiplying both sides by a fraction. Multiplying and dividing are inverses of the same process, kind of like adding and subtracting, so the same rules apply to both.
Who is Elise Hansen?
Elise Hansen is a journalist and writer with a special interest in math and science.
What happens if the number on the other side of the inequality sign is negative?
If the number on the other side of the inequality sign is negative, your equation either has no solution or all real numbers as solutions.
When do you flip the inequality sign?
The main situation where you’ll need to flip the inequality sign is when you multiply or divide both sides of an inequality by a negative number. To solve, you need to get all the x-es on the same side of the inequality.
How to solve simple inequalities?
Summary. Many simple inequalities can be solved by adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing both sides until you are left with the variable on its own . But these things will change direction of the inequality: Multiplying or dividing both sides by a negative number.
What is compound inequality?
A compound inequality is just more than one inequality that we want to solve at the same time. We can either use the word ‘and’ or ‘or’ to indicate if we are looking at the solution to both inequalities (and), or if we are looking at the solution to either one of the inequalities (or).
When you multiply both sides by a negative number, what happens?
When you multiply both sides by a negative value you make the side that is greater have a “bigger” negative number , which actually means it is now less than the other side! This is why you must flip the sign whenever you multiply by a negative number.
Does subtracting the same number from each side of an inequality change the direction of the inequality symbol?
Subtracting the same number from each side of an inequality does not change the direction of the inequality symbol.
Can you subtract the same quantity from each side?
When solving an inequality: • you can add the same quantity to each side • you can subtract the same quantity from each side • you can multiply or divide each side by the same positive quantity If you multiply or divide each side by a negative quantity, the inequality symbol must be reversed.
What If I Solve It, But "x" Is On The Right?
No matter, just swap sides, but reverse the sign so it still "points at" the correct value!
How to solve inequalities?
Many simple inequalities can be solved by adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing both sides until you are left with the variable on its own.
Why do inequalities change when multiplying?
Because we are multiplying by a positive number, the inequalities don't change: Now divide each part by 2 (a positive number, so again the inequalities don't change): Now multiply each part by −1. Because we are multiplying by a negative number, the inequalities change direction . And that is the solution!
Why do inequalities not change?
Because we are multiplying by a positive number, the inequalities will not change.
Can you divide by a variable to solve an inequality?
Do not try dividing by a variable to solve an inequality (unless you know the variable is always positive, or always negative).
Where is the x on a sprite?
Note: "x" can be on the right, but people usually like to see it on the left hand side.
Does adding and subtracting affect inequality?
And that works well for adding and subtracting, because if we add (or subtract) the same amount from both sides, it does not affect the inequality. Example: Alex has more coins than Billy. If both Alex and Billy get three more coins each, Alex will still have more coins than Billy.
How do negative numbers affect inequalities?
Effect of negative numbers on inequalities. We solve inequalities the same way we solve equations, except that when we multiply or divide both sides of the inequality by a negative number, we have to do something special to it. Anytime you multiply or divide both sides of the inequality, you must “flip” or change the direction ...
When you multiply or divide both sides of an inequality, do you flip?
Anytime you multiply or divide both sides of the inequality, you must “flip” or change the direction of the inequality sign.
What happens if the sign is greater than or equal to a greater than sign?
If the sign is greater than or equal to ≥ geq ≥, or less than or equal to ≤ leq ≤, the “equals” part of the sign is unaffected; it stays the same . You only have to flip the greater than sign to a less than sign, or flip the less than sign to a greater than sign. How to change the inequality when multiplying or dividing by a negative number.
