How to find the solution to an inequality with subtraction - PSAT Math

Card 0 of 9

Question

Which of the following is equivalent to $\left | x-3 \right |<2$ ?

Answer

Solve for both x – 3 < 2 and –(x – 3) < 2.

x – 3 < 2 and –x + 3 < 2

x < 2 + 3 and –x < 2 – 3

x < 5 and –x < –1

x < 5 and x > 1

The results are x < 5 and x > 1.

Combine the two inequalities to get 1 < x < 5

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

A factory packs cereal boxes. Before sealing each box, a machine weighs it to ensure that it is no lighter than 356 grams and no heavier than 364 grams. If the box holds grams of cereal, which inequality represents all allowable values of ___?

Answer

The median weight of a box of cereal is 360 grams. This should be an allowable value of w. Substituting 360 for w into each answer choice, the only true results are:

$\ |w -360| \leq 4 \ |360 -360| \leq 4 \0 \leq 4$

and:

$\|w + 360| \geq 4 \ |360 + 360| \geq 4\ 720 \geq4$

Notice that any positive value for w satisfies the second inequality above. Since w must be between 356 and 364, the first inequality above is the only reasonable choice.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

|12x + 3y| < 15

What is the range of values for y, expressed in terms of x?

Answer

Recall that with absolute values and "less than" inequalities, we have to hold the following:

12x + 3y < 15

AND

12x + 3y > –15

Otherwise written, this is:

–15 < 12x + 3y < 15

In this form, we can solve for y. First, we have to subtract x from all 3 parts of the inequality:

–15 – 12x < 3y < 15 – 12x

Now, we have to divide each element by 3:

(–15 – 12x)/3 < y < (15 – 12x)/3

This simplifies to:

–5 – 4x < y < 5 – 4x

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

|4x + 14| > 30

What is a possible valid value of x?

Answer

This inequality could be rewritten as:

4x + 14 > 30 OR 4x + 14 < –30

Solve each for x:

4x + 14 > 30; 4x > 16; x > 4

4x + 14 < –30; 4x < –44; x < –11

Therefore, anything between –11 and 4 (inclusive) will not work. Hence, the answer is 7.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

Given the inequality, |2_x_ – 2| > 20,

what is a possible value for x?

Answer

For this problem, we must take into account the absolute value.

First, we solve for 2_x_ – 2 > 20. But we must also solve for 2_x_ – 2 < –20 (please notice that we negate 20 and we also flip the inequality sign).

First step:

2_x_ – 2 > 20

2_x_ > 22

x > 11

Second step:

2_x_ – 2 < –20

2_x_ < –18

x < –9

Therefore, x > 11 and x < –9.

A possible value for x would be –10 since that is less than –9.

Note: the value 11 would not be a possible value for x because the inequality sign given does not include an equal sign.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

$\dpi{100} \small -2y+7>-7+y$

Given the inequality above, which of the following MUST be true?

Answer

$\dpi{100} \small -2y+7>-7+y$ Subtract from both sides:

Subtract 7 from both sides:

Divide both sides by $\dpi{100} \small -3$ :

$\frac{-3y}{-3}>\frac{-14}{-3}$

Remember to switch the inequality when dividing by a negative number:

$y<\frac{14}{3}$

Since $\dpi{100} \small y<\frac{14}{3}$ is not an answer, we must find an answer that, at the very least, does not contradict the fact that is less than (approximately) 4.67. Since any number that is less than 4.67 is also less than any number that is bigger than 4.67, we can be sure that is less than 5.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

If $\frac{a}{5}+5> 6$ , which of the following MUST be true?

I. $a> 2$

II. $a> 10$

III. $a< 6$

Answer

Subtract 5 from both sides of the inequality:

$\frac{a}{5}> 1$

Multiply both sides by 5:

$a> 5$

Therefore only I must be true.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

Solve for $x$ .

$-2x+5\leq 10$

Answer

Move +5 using subtraction rule which will give you $-2x\leq 5$ .

Divide both sides by 2 (using division rule) and you will get $-x\leq \frac{5}{2}$ which is the same as $x\geq \frac{5}{2}$

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Question

Which of the following is a possible set of solutions to ?

Answer

Manipulate the inequality until is on a side by itself:

For this equation, must be less than 6. Find the answer choice with values all less than 6. In this case, it will be -1, 4, and 5.

Compare your answer with the correct one above

Tap the card to reveal the answer