How am I suppose to know when to flip the inequality if you re suppose to

You are supposed to flip an inequality when you multiply or divide either side by a negative number. You do this because when multiplying sides by a negative number, you change the sign of each side, making the previously greater side less.

Math needs to solve its own problems. I'm not a life expert!

AGREED LOL. but sadly we have to and it can become really fun, if you have toys pretend that you are having a class and they are the students. You dont even have to talk, just the idea of it helps me.

this is not the way my teacher teached me

Can someone help me i get confused when it comes to switch the sign do you flip it when it has a negative in the problem or do you flip the sign when is a negative.

I'm having trouble with entering data & answers in "One-step inequalities" Review. First, I can not enter my answers because the POP-UP icons won't clear. Specifically, the problem "2x<15". At the present, the entire Exercise "One-Step Inequalities Review" is LOCKED-UP. Please Help. Henry

Just click the screen to the left, right, top, or bottom of the pop-up. It should clear just fine. If it doesn't, sorry, maybe your device has a glitch.

i kind of get it but still to hard for me.

if you want to add or subtract you have to put the x alone example: h+3<8 you will subtract the 2 sides by 3 h+3<8 -3 -3 h<5 and that is your answer. same goes for multiplting and dividing but it has only one diffrent rule in -/+ you never change the sign but in x/dividing when ever you multiply or divid with a negative number you must change the sign example: -5h>20 when you see a number stuck to a varibale than you must now that there is a hiden multipication sign so what is the opposit of the multipication. division so, -5 divided by 20 is -0.25 and dont forget when ever you multiply of divide by a negative number you change the inequality sign. the answer will be h<-0.25

on the last question why did the symbol switch

The symbol switched because when you divide/multiply a negative number in an INEQUALITY the symbol must change.

we have to change the symbols when he have a negative number?

We reverse the inequality only if we multiply or divide both sides of the inequality by a negative number. Hope this helps.

Main content

7th grade

Course: 7th grade > Unit 6

Lesson 7: One-step inequalities

One-step inequalities review

Q: I'm having trouble with entering data & answers in "One-step inequalities" Review. First, I can not enter my answers because the POP-UP icons won't clear. Specifically, the problem "2x<15". At the present, the entire Exercise "One-Step Inequalities Review" is LOCKED-UP. Please Help. Henry

Just click the screen to the left, right, top, or bottom of the pop-up. It should clear just fine. If it doesn't, sorry, maybe your device has a glitch.

Q: i kind of get it but still to hard for me.

if you want to add or subtract you have to put the x alone example: h+3<8 you will subtract the 2 sides by 3 h+3<8 -3 -3 h<5 and that is your answer. same goes for multiplting and dividing but it has only one diffrent rule in -/+ you never change the sign but in x/dividing when ever you multiply or divid with a negative number you must change the sign example: -5h>20 when you see a number stuck to a varibale than you must now that there is a hiden multipication sign so what is the opposit of the multipication. division so, -5 divided by 20 is -0.25 and dont forget when ever you multiply of divide by a negative number you change the inequality sign. the answer will be h<-0.25

Q: on the last question why did the symbol switch

The symbol switched because when you divide/multiply a negative number in an INEQUALITY the symbol must change.

Q: we have to change the symbols when he have a negative number?

We reverse the inequality only if we multiply or divide both sides of the inequality by a negative number. Hope this helps.

Google Classroom

Review evaluating one-step inequalities, and try some practice problems.

Inequalities symbols

Symbol	Meaning
$>$ ‍	Greater than
$\underset{―}{>}$ ‍	Greater than or equal to
$<$ ‍	Less than
$\underset{―}{<}$ ‍	Less than or equal to

Evaluating inequalities with addition and subtraction

We evaluate inequalities like we evaluate equations: we want to isolate the variable.

Example 1: $x + 7 > 4$ ‍

To isolate

x

, let's

subtract 7

from both sides.

x + 7 - 7 > 4 - 7

Now, we simplify.

x > - 3

Example 2: $z - 11 \underset{―}{<} 5$ ‍

To isolate

z

, let's

add 11

to both sides.

z - 11 + 11 \underset{―}{<} 5 + 11

Now, we simplify.

z \underset{―}{<} 16

Want to learn more about one-step inequalities? Check out this video.

Practice set 1

Problem 1A

Solve for $x$ ‍.
Your answer must be simplified.

x - 8 < - 1

Evaluating inequalities with multiplication and division

Again, we want to isolate the variable. But things will get a little different when multiply or divide by a negative number. Look carefully to see what happens!

Example 1: $10 x < - 3$ ‍

To isolate

x

, let's divide both sides by

10

\frac{10 x}{10} < \frac{- 3}{10}

Now, we simplify.

x < - \frac{3}{10}

Example 2: $\frac{y}{- 6} \underset{―}{>} 4$ ‍

To isolate

y

, let's multiply both sides by

- 6

(\frac{y}{- 6}) \times - 6 \underset{―}{>} 4 \times - 6

Now, we simplify.

y \underset{―}{<} - 24

[Whoa! Why did the symbol change?]

Practice set 2

Problem 2A

Solve for $x$ ‍.
Your answer must be simplified.

2 x < 15

Want to try more problems like this? Check out this exercise.

Want to join the conversation?

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Jolie Choong
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Jolie Choong's post “How am I suppose to know ...”
How am I suppose to know when to flip the inequality if you re suppose to
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Jolie Choong's post “How am I suppose to know ...”
(21 votes)
Answer
- Henry Oehlrich
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Henry Oehlrich's post “You are supposed to flip ...”
  You are supposed to flip an inequality when you multiply or divide either side by a negative number. You do this because when multiplying sides by a negative number, you change the sign of each side, making the previously greater side less.
  Comment on Henry Oehlrich's post “You are supposed to flip ...”
  (44 votes)
345329
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to 345329's post “How can anyone do this.”
How can anyone do this.
Button navigates to signup pageComment on 345329's post “How can anyone do this.”
(24 votes)
Answer
- sharkel15
  Posted 8 months ago. Direct link to sharkel15's post “What do you mean, I did i...”
  What do you mean, I did it lol
  Button navigates to signup page
  (0 votes)
Łogic
Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Łogic's post “Math needs to solve its o...”
Math needs to solve its own problems. I'm not a life expert!
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Łogic's post “Math needs to solve its o...”
(20 votes)
Answer
- Whitney💖💖
  Posted 10 months ago. Direct link to Whitney💖💖's post “AGREED LOL. but sadly we ...”
  AGREED LOL. but sadly we have to and it can become really fun, if you have toys pretend that you are having a class and they are the students. You dont even have to talk, just the idea of it helps me.
  Comment on Whitney💖💖's post “AGREED LOL. but sadly we ...”
  (3 votes)
alexsis plubell
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to alexsis plubell's post “I keep getting confused o...”
I keep getting confused on when to switch or not
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(15 votes)
Answer
- lowrey lily
  Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to lowrey lily's post “me to. I keep forgetting.”
  me to.
  I keep forgetting.
  Comment on lowrey lily's post “me to. I keep forgetting.”
  (4 votes)
mhunt5151
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to mhunt5151's post “this is not the way my te...”
this is not the way my teacher teached me
Button navigates to signup pageComment on mhunt5151's post “this is not the way my te...”
(10 votes)
Answer
- andreka.w2006
  Posted 3 years ago. Direct link to andreka.w2006's post “Can someone help me i get...”
  Can someone help me i get confused when it comes to switch the sign do you flip it when it has a negative in the problem or do you flip the sign when is a negative.
  Comment on andreka.w2006's post “Can someone help me i get...”
  (8 votes)
Henry Holmes
Posted 6 years ago. Direct link to Henry Holmes's post “I'm having trouble with e...”
I'm having trouble with entering data & answers in "One-step inequalities" Review. First, I can not enter my answers because the POP-UP icons won't clear. Specifically, the problem "2x<15". At the present, the entire Exercise "One-Step Inequalities Review" is LOCKED-UP. Please Help. Henry
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Henry Holmes's post “I'm having trouble with e...”
(9 votes)
Answer
- Kiki Choi
  Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to Kiki Choi's post “Just click the screen to ...”
  Just click the screen to the left, right, top, or bottom of the pop-up. It should clear just fine. If it doesn't, sorry, maybe your device has a glitch.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (5 votes)
heavens4419
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to heavens4419's post “i kind of get it but stil...”
i kind of get it but still to hard for me.
Button navigates to signup pageComment on heavens4419's post “i kind of get it but stil...”
(5 votes)
Answer
- habiba mohamed
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to habiba mohamed's post “if you want to add or sub...”
  if you want to add or subtract you have to put the x alone example: h+3<8
  you will subtract the 2 sides by 3
  h+3<8
  -3 -3
  h<5
  and that is your answer.
  
  same goes for multiplting and dividing but it has only one diffrent rule in -/+ you never change the sign but in x/dividing when ever you multiply or divid with a negative number you must change the sign
  example: -5h>20 when you see a number stuck to a varibale than you must now that there is a hiden multipication sign so what is the opposit of the multipication. division so, -5 divided by 20 is -0.25
  and dont forget when ever you multiply of divide by a negative number you change the inequality sign.
  the answer will be h<-0.25
  Comment on habiba mohamed's post “if you want to add or sub...”
  (8 votes)
aandreasen
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to aandreasen's post “on the last question why ...”
on the last question why did the symbol switch
Button navigates to signup pageComment on aandreasen's post “on the last question why ...”
(4 votes)
Answer
- Brandon898061
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Brandon898061's post “The symbol switched becau...”
  The symbol switched because when you divide/multiply a negative number in an INEQUALITY the symbol must change.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (6 votes)
Chris Mills
Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to Chris Mills's post “For the last question in ...”
For the last question in the second exercise, problem 2c, can we not equally put x is less than or equal to 3 1/3?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Chris Mills's post “For the last question in ...”
(7 votes)
Answer
GreenApple857
Posted 6 months ago. Direct link to GreenApple857's post “we have to change the sym...”
we have to change the symbols when he have a negative number?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on GreenApple857's post “we have to change the sym...”
(4 votes)
Answer
- Kim Seidel
  Posted 6 months ago. Direct link to Kim Seidel's post “We reverse the inequality...”
  We reverse the inequality only if we multiply or divide both sides of the inequality by a negative number.
  Hope this helps.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (6 votes)