Question

If you are working with less than, or greater than. If there is a negative do you switch the sign? For example 9t-4>32

Answer 1

Rule: If working with an inequality and you either mult. or div. by a negative number, you must reverse the direction of the inequality symbol.

Explanation:

Your job here is to simplify 9t-4>32, in which the variable (t) is already positive. Here you do NOT switch signs or reverse the direction of the inequality symbol. Adding 4 to both sides, we get 9t > 36, or t > 4.

If, however, you had -9t-4>32 to work with, the situation would be different because t in this inequality is negative. Adding 4 to both sides results in:

-9t > 36. To solve for t, we must divide both sides by -9 AND reverse the direction of the inequality symbol:

t < -4.

Rule: If working with an inequality and you either mult. or div. by a negative number, you must reverse the direction of the inequality symbol.