Question

Which is a correct first step in solving the inequality –4(2x – 1) > 5 – 3x?

Distribute –4 to get –8x + 4 > 5 – 3x.
Distribute –4 to get –8x – 1 > 5 – 3x.
Subtract 2x from both sides of the inequality.
Add 1 to both sides of the inequality.

Answer 1

Distribute -4 to get -8x + 8 > 5 - 3x

Answer 2

Distribute –4 to get –8x + 4 > 5 – 3x

Explanation:

The first thing we need to do when solving an inequality (or an equality) is get rid of the parenthesis.

In this case, we could divide on both sides by -4 but that way we would get another parenthesis on the right side of the inequality and we have to start again.

The easiest way is to distribute the -4 in the parenthesis and get

-4(2x-1) = -4*2x -4*(-1) = -8x + 4

Therefore, the correct answer is the first one.