Exercise 24 Page 396

Inequalities can be solved in the same way as equations, by performing inverse operations on both sides until the variable is isolated. The only difference is that when we divide or multiply by a negative number, we must reverse the inequality sign.

12.7 ≥ s-5.3

AddIneq

LHS+5.3≥RHS+5.3

12.7+ 5.3 ≥ s-5.3 + 5.3

AddTerms

Add terms

18 ≥ s

RearrangeIneq

Rearrange inequality

s ≤ 18

We found that all values of s less than or equal to 18 will satisfy the inequality. Now let’s graph the inequality on a number line. Since s can equal 18, we draw a closed circle at this point. Since s is all values less than or equal to 18, we will shade the part of the number line that represents numbers less than or equal to 18. This means that we shade to the left of our point at 18, including 18 with the closed circle.