Writing Equations and Inequalities from Word Problems

Front

What is an inequality?

Back

An inequality is a mathematical statement that compares two expressions and shows that one is greater than, less than, greater than or equal to, or less than or equal to the other.

Front

How do you represent a word problem as an inequality?

Back

Identify the quantities involved, determine the relationship between them, and use symbols like <, >, ≤, or ≥ to express the relationship mathematically.

Front

What does the symbol '≤' mean?

Back

The symbol '≤' means 'less than or equal to'.

Front

What does the symbol '≥' mean?

Back

The symbol '≥' means 'greater than or equal to'.

Front

How do you write an inequality for a maximum weight limit?

Back

If the maximum weight is W and the weight of items is represented as x, the inequality is x ≤ W.

Front

What is the first step in solving an inequality?

Back

The first step is to isolate the variable on one side of the inequality.

Front

What is the difference between an equation and an inequality?

Back

An equation states that two expressions are equal, while an inequality shows that one expression is greater than or less than another.

Front

How do you graph an inequality on a number line?

Back

Use an open circle for < or > and a closed circle for ≤ or ≥, then shade the appropriate side of the circle.

Front

What is a variable in a mathematical expression?

Back

A variable is a symbol, often represented by letters like x or y, that stands for an unknown value.

Front

How do you write an equation for a situation involving a starting amount and a rate of change?

Back

Use the form y = mx + b, where m is the rate of change, x is the number of intervals, and b is the starting amount.