In the inequality 37 ≤ - 2x + 1, what is the appropriate order of steps needed to solve the inequality for x ?
A. Add 1 to both sides, divide both sides by 2, and flip the inequality sign to ≥.
B. Subtract 1 from both sides, divide both sides by -2, and flip the inequality sign to ≥.
C. Add 1 to both sides, divide both sides by -2, and keep the original inequality sign.
D. Subtract 1 from both sides, divide both sides by 2, and keep the original inequality sign.
Answer:B
In the inequality 37 ≤ - 2x + 1, what is the appropriate order of steps needed to solve the inequality for x ?
A. Add 1 to both sides, divide both sides by 2, and flip the inequality sign to ≥. B. Subtract 1 from both sides, divide both sides by -2, and flip the inequality sign to ≥. C. Add 1 to both sides, divide both sides by -2, and keep the original inequality sign. D. Subtract 1 from both sides, divide both sides by 2, and keep the original inequality sign.
Explanation: B The goal here is to isolate x. Since the right-hand side of the equation is -2x + 1, you will want to subtract 1 from both sides, so eliminate (A) and (C). To get x by itself, you will want to divide by -2, not 2, so eliminate (D) and choose (B). Remember that when you multiply or divide across an inequality sign using a negative number, you need to flip the inequality sign in the opposite direction, as reflected in (B).