Main content
6th grade
Numerical inequality word problems
In this math lesson, we learn to compare quantities using inequalities. John makes pasta dough with two types of flour, finding that wheat flour (3/2 cups) is greater than regular flour (3/4 cups). We also compare ocean depths, discovering the Diamantina trench is deeper than the Bering Strait. Lastly, John makes noodles, comparing tapioca flour (11/16 cups) and rice flour (3/8 cups). Created by Sal Khan.
Want to join the conversation?
- Hi People, how ya doin? How's quarantine?(28 votes)
- Over and done(9 votes)
- what does upvoting do anyways?(11 votes)
- nothing at all(2 votes)
- Does inequality mean < or > or = or can it be something else too?(5 votes)
- "Inequality" is the opposite of equality, meaning they are not equal. > (greater than), < (less than) ≠ (not equal to) are all strict inequalities as they are not equal to each other. There are some inequalities that are a little more flexible, where it could be equal to, such as ≥ (greater than or equal to) and ≤ (less than or equal to).(6 votes)
- First, Thanks for all your help, KA!
This video actually doesn't match the exercise titled "Inequality word problems." This video is comparing two numbers instead of writing an inequality with one variable. On the other hand, the video titled "Inequality word problem: one variable" actually only shows 2 variable examples which is confusing. It would be helpful to have videos that match the assignments (as almost all of them do...so this is a fluke.)
Thanks for everything...Michele(6 votes) - pls upvote for earth badge(6 votes)
- how do you whatch the video(4 votes)
- hhhhmmmmm I don't know maybe try digging it up with a shovel(1 vote)
- find the slope of the equation below
y-2=4/5(x+8)(5 votes)- The answer is this:(y=4/5(x+8)+2). This is because you have to put the -2 (which is next to the y)in the end of the problem to find the value of y.
Thank you for your time.(1 vote)
- A vertical number line is labeled with integers from negative 6 to 2 from bottom to top. There are two points on the number line. The point 1.2 is located above 0, between 1 and 2. The point negative 4.4 is located below 0, between negative 4 and negative 5.(4 votes)
- how do we know when to use <(2 votes)
- You use this when the number on the left is smaller than the right. Sort of like if I had this:
18___25
You would put that symbol in, because 18 is smaller than 25.(1 vote)
- why is math so hard(5 votes)
- I know right?(0 votes)
Video transcript
John is making pasta dough. To make the dough, he
mixed 3/2 cups wheat flour with 3/4 cups regular
flour in some water. Write an inequality to
express the relationship between the wheat flour
and the regular flour. He mixed 3/2 cups
of wheat flour. 3/2 is the exact same
thing as 1 and 1/2, if we were to write
it as a mixed number. So it's more than 1
cup of wheat flour. And he mixes his that with
3/4 cups of regular flour. Well, 3/4 is less than 1, so 3/2
is definitely greater than 3/4. And we can just pick greater
than right over there. 3/2 is greater than 3/4. Let's do a couple more of these. One of the deepest points
in the Indian Ocean, the Diamantina trench, is
at negative 8 kilometers. We say it is
negative 8 kilometers because it is 8 kilometers
below sea level. The deepest part of the Bering
Strait is at negative 5 and 4/9 kilometers. Write an inequality to show the
relationship between these two points, and determine
which point is deeper. Let's see. We have a greater
than sign here. So we want to write
whichever quantity is greater on the
left-hand side. We look right over here. This number, negative 5 and
4/9, it is less negative. So it's actually going
to be greater value. It's not as deep. We can write negative
5 and 4/9 kilometers is greater than
negative 8 kilometers. And so if we're thinking
about which point is deeper, it's going to be the one that's
more negative, because that tells us how far below
sea level we are. So the negative
8 kilometer point is further below sea level. Let's see. Negative 8 kilometers. The Diamantina trench
at negative 8 kilometers is the deeper point. This is fun, because in
some of these questions you actually learn things. I always thought that the
deepest part of the Bering Sea-- well, anyway. We can talk about
that another time. Negative 8 kilometers, so the
Diamantina trench is deeper. Let's do one more. John is making noodles. To make the batter, he mixes
11/16 cups tapioca flour with 3/8 rice flour
and some water. Write an inequality to
express the relationship between the tapioca
flour and rice flour. So we're really comparing
11/16 cups of tapioca to 3/8 cups rice flour. So we're really comparing
these two fractions. And at first it might
seem hard to compare. You have different denominators. But 3/8 could easily be
converted to a fraction with 16 as the denominator. What would you do? Well, if you doubled
both the 3 and the 8-- you have to do the same
thing to the numerator and the denominator--
this fraction 3/8 is equivalent to 6/16. And then you would have
the same denominator. You could compare 11/16 to 6/16. Well, if you have
the same denominator and this numerator is
greater, 11 is greater than 6, 11/16 is going to be
greater than 6/16, which is the same thing as 3/8. And we got it right.