Question

Below are the steps for solving an inequality. What is the final step required to solve the inequality?

5x+7>3x−9
2x+7>−9
2x>−16

Multiply by 2 and reverse the inequality symbol.
Divide by 2 and reverse the inequality symbol.
Multiply by 2 and do not reverse the inequality symbol.
Divide by 2 and do not reverse the inequality symbol.

Answer 1

Divide by 2 and do not reverse the inequality symbol.

Explanation:

2x>−16

dividing by 2 from both sides

x>-8

(you only have to reverse the inequality symbol when you multiply or divide by a negative number but 2 isn't a negative number)

the first and the third choices are also excluded because multiplying by 2 won't solve the inequality

it would be either

4x<−32

or

4x>−32

and the first one is wrong because as we know that multiplying by a positive number doesn't reverse the inequality symbol