Homework Help: Math

Posted by scooby9132002 on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 9:10pm.

Why does the inequality sign change when both sides are multiplied or divided by a negative number? Does this happen with equations? Why or why not?

Math - Reiny, Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 10:17pm
let's illustrate it with a number example

hope you agree that

8 > 3

You can add or subtract the same number to both sides of the inequation and the statement would still be true, right?

now multiply both sides by any positive number
e.g. 8(5) > 3(5)
40 > 15 , still true ? YES

now multiply both sides by a negative number.

e.g. 8(-2) > 3(-2)
-16 > -6 , is this true ? NOOOOO!
how do we make it true?
how about turning the > to <

-16 < -6

Do we do the same thing for equations you ask?

how about
-3x = 9
divide both sides by -3
x = -3

(you did notice that I turned = around to = , didn't you??)

Answer this Question

Related Questions

math - Why does the inequality sign change when both sides are multiplied or ...
Math - Why does the inequality sign change when both sides are multiplied or ...
math - Why does the inequality sign change when both sides are multiplied or ...
Algebra - Why does the inequality sign change when both sides are multiplied or ...
algebra - Why does the inequality sign change when both sides are multiplied or ...
Algebra - Why does the inequality sign change when both sides are multiplied or...
algebra - Why does the inequality sign change when both sides are multiplied or ...
Algebra - Why does the inequality sign change when both sides are multiplied or ...
College Algebra - Why does the inequality sign change when both sides are ...
Algebra - 1. Why does the inequality sign change when both sides of the ...

For Further Reading

First Name:
School Subject:
Answer: