Question

I’m thinking of a number. When you multiply it by 3 and subtract 10 you will get a number less than 5. Form an inequality and solve it to describe the range of possible numbers

Answer 1

`3x-10<5\\x<5`

Explanation:

Let x be equal to the number.

We can use what the question gives us to directly form a mathematical statement. When you multiply it by 3 (3x) and then subtract 10 (3x-10) you will get a number less than 5 (<5). Using this, our mathematical statement would look like this:

`3x-10<5`

To find the range of possible values, we must solve the inequality and isolate x.

`3x-10<5`

Add 10 to both sides

`3x-10+10<5+10\\3x<15`

Divide both sides by 3

`(3x)/(3)<(15)/(3)\\x<5`

I hope this helps!