9th grade · Math · Unit 11 of 17
Linear Inequalities
Solve and write inequalities
What your child practices
Solving linear inequalities (flipping the sign when dividing by a negative), checking a solution, and writing inequalities from budgets and limits.
Alaska content standards learning standard: A-REI.3; A-CED.1 · creating and solving linear inequalities in context
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- Solve an inequality like an equation.
- If you multiply or divide by a negative number, flip the sign.
- Check with a number from your answer.
Example: Solve −2x + 3 > 11. Subtract 3: −2x > 8. Divide by −2 and flip: x < −4. Answer: x < −4
Linear Inequalities in Alaska
In the Alaska content standards, this is unit 11 of 17 in 9th grade Math, after Function Notation and before Solving Systems.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
Source: Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Solve −x + 10 ≥ 14.
- x ≤ −4
- x ≥ −4
- x ≥ −3
- x ≥ 4
x ≤ −4
Hint: Undo the steps as with an equation. Dividing by a negative number flips the inequality sign.
Question 2
Is x = −1 a solution of 4x + 2 < 17?
- Yes
- No
Yes
Hint: Substitute: 4 × (−1) + 2 = −2. Is that less than 17?
Question 3
Tickets cost $5 each plus a $6 fee. You can spend at most $110. What is the greatest number of tickets you can buy?
- 17
- 22
- 20
- 21
20
Hint: 5t + 6 ≤ 110, so t ≤ 20.8. Round down.
Question 4
You have $80. Shirts cost $4 each and shipping is $8. Which inequality shows how many shirts, s, you can buy?
- 4 + 8s ≤ 80
- 4s ≤ 80 + 8
- 4s + 8 ≥ 80
- 4s + 8 ≤ 80
4s + 8 ≤ 80
Hint: The total cost (price × shirts + shipping) must be at most your budget.
Question 5
Tickets cost $3 each plus a $9 fee. You can spend at most $50. What is the greatest number of tickets you can buy?
- 13
- 14
- 16
- 15
13
Hint: 3t + 9 ≤ 50, so t ≤ 13.667. Round down.
Question 6
You have $40. Shirts cost $12 each and shipping is $6. Which inequality shows how many shirts, s, you can buy?
- 12s ≤ 40 + 6
- 12s + 6 ≤ 40
- 12s + 6 ≥ 40
- 12 + 6s ≤ 40
12s + 6 ≤ 40
Hint: The total cost (price × shirts + shipping) must be at most your budget.