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.
Arizona Academic Standards learning standard: A1.A-REI.B.3; A1.A-CED.A.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 Arizona
In the Arizona Academic 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: Arizona Department of Education
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
Is x = 3 a solution of 2x < −2?
- Yes
- No
No
Hint: Substitute: 2 × 3 + 0 = 6. Is that less than −2?
Question 2
Tickets cost $11 each plus a $2 fee. You can spend at most $120. What is the greatest number of tickets you can buy?
- 12
- 11
- 10
- 9
10
Hint: 11t + 2 ≤ 120, so t ≤ 10.727. Round down.
Question 3
Solve 4x + 9 ≤ 17.
- x ≤ −2
- x ≤ 3
- x ≥ 2
- x ≤ 2
x ≤ 2
Hint: Undo the steps as with an equation.
Question 4
You have $70. Shirts cost $9 each and shipping is $8. Which inequality shows how many shirts, s, you can buy?
- 9s + 8 ≥ 70
- 9s ≤ 70 + 8
- 9 + 8s ≤ 70
- 9s + 8 ≤ 70
9s + 8 ≤ 70
Hint: The total cost (price × shirts + shipping) must be at most your budget.
Question 5
You have $30. Shirts cost $14 each and shipping is $3. Which inequality shows how many shirts, s, you can buy?
- 14 + 3s ≤ 30
- 14s + 3 ≥ 30
- 14s + 3 ≤ 30
- 14s ≤ 30 + 3
14s + 3 ≤ 30
Hint: The total cost (price × shirts + shipping) must be at most your budget.
Question 6
Tickets cost $9 each plus a $7 fee. You can spend at most $120. What is the greatest number of tickets you can buy?
- 15
- 12
- 13
- 14
12
Hint: 9t + 7 ≤ 120, so t ≤ 12.556. Round down.