Inequality Phrases

Translating Inequalities

Key Words

Notice that it says “is” in front of each word.
“Is” and then “less than” represents the
inequality, not the operation of subtraction!

Match

Match the following phrase with the correct symbol

• ≤

• ≥

• <

• >

at most

at least

is less than

is more than

• at most

• at least

• is less than

• is more than

Multiple Choice

Which phrase represents this symbol?

• less than
• greater than
• less than or equal to
• greater than or equal to

Multiple Choice

Which phrase represents this symbol?

• less than
• greater than
• less than or equal to
• greater than or equal to

Multiple Choice

Which symbol means "less than"?

• <

• >

• <

• >

Multiple Choice

Which symbol means "greater than"?

• <

• >

• <

• >

Example #13:
“2 is less than a
number”

**Remember to
write it how you
read it!

2 < n

***If it had said “2 less than a number”, it would have
translated to “n - 2”. The “is” is important!

Example #14:
“5 minus twice a
number is greater
than or equal to 10”

**Tip: Find the “is”!

5 - 2n > 10

*** Recall that “twice” means 2 times something!

Example #15:
“4 less than a number
is less than 7”

x - 4 < 7

*** Recall that “less than” is a flip word when it
doesn’t have “is” in front of it.

**This is definitely
something they do
to confuse you!
Find the “is”!

Example #16:
“6 times the sum of a
number and 3 is at most
24”

6(x + 3) < 24

**Many of the
inequality words
are opposite of
what you think!
Don’t see most and
think > necessarily.

Multiple Choice

To order from the kids menu a person must be no more than 12 years old.

• x > 12
• x < 12
• x ≥ 12
• x  ≤ 12

Multiple Choice

Write an inequality for this situation:
You must be at least 18 years old to join the military.

• x > 18
• x < 18
• x ≥ 18
• x ≤ 18

Multiple Choice

Translate the word phrase:
The speed limit is 45 miles per hour.

• x > 45
• x < 45
• x ≤ 45
• x ≥ 45

Multiple Choice

Translate the word phrase:
You need to be 52 inches tall to ride Steal Venom.

• x > 52
• x < 52
• x ≤ 52
• x ≥ 52

Multiple Choice

Translate the word phrase:
You will need to sell at least 200 tickets for the dance.

• x > 200
• x < 200
• x ≤ 200
• x ≥ 200

Multiple Choice

Translate the word phrase:
Sara has at most 5 pairs of shoes.

• x > 5
• x < 5
• x ≤ 5
• x ≥ 5

Multiple Choice

Translate the word phrase:
The capacity of the elevator is 2000 pounds.

• x > 2000
• x < 2000
• x ≤ 2000
• x ≥ 2000

Multiple Choice

Translate the word phrase:
Each person can have no more than 4 pieces of pizza.

• x > 4
• x < 4
• x ≤ 4
• x ≥ 4

Multiple Choice

The maximum score on the pilot's test is 95 points.

• p < 95
• p > 95
• p ≥ 95
• p ≤ 95

Multiple Choice

you must be a minimum of 48 inches to ride the roller coaster.

• x > 48

• x < 48

• x ≤ 48

• x ≥ 48

Multiple Choice

Which sentence represents m > 41?

• Mary’s points, m, totaled more than 41
• Calvin ran no less than 41 miles, m
• The temperature, m, was less than 41°F
• The magazines’ cost, m, was not more than $41.

Multiple Choice

Four times a number increased by  7 is at least 19. 

• 4x > 19
• 4x + 7 ≥ 19
• 4x < 19
• 4x + 7 ≤ 19

Multiple Choice

Translate into a correct inequality: Six increased by twice a number is no more than 20.

• 6x + 2 ≥20
• 6x + 2 > 20
• 6 - 2x ≤20
• 6 + 2x ≤20

Multiple Choice

Translate:
 4 plus the product of 6 and n is less than 10

• 4 + 6n 
  < 10
• 4 - 6 + n 
  > 10
• 6m + n 
  ≠ 5
• 4 + 6 + n 
  ≥ 3

Multiple Choice

Translate:
5 less than the product of 7 and s is no more than 14

• 7s - 5 
  ≤ 14
• 5 - 7 + s 
  ≥ 14
• 7(s - 5) 
• 5 - 7s 
  ≠ 14

Multiple Choice

Translate the sentence into an inequality.
Seven subtracted from n is greater than or equal to 18.

• n - 7 > 18
• 7 - n ≥ 18
• n - 7 ≥ 18
• n + 7 ≥ 18

Multiple Choice

You downloaded a video game to your computer. You have a 60 minute free trial of the game. It takes 5 minutes to set up the game and 7 minutes to play each level. Write an inequality to show how many levels you can play. DO NOT SOLVE

• 5x-7 ≥ 60
• 7x+5 ≤ 60
• 7+5 ≤ 60x
• 7x-5 ≥ 60

Multiple Choice

Melissa wants to spend no more than $300 on school clothes. She spends $75 on a coat and then wants to buy some sweaters that are on special for $10 each. Write an inequality to show how many sweaters Melissa can buy. DO NOT SOLVE

• 75x-10 ≥ 300
• 75+10 ≤ 300x
• 10x ≥ 300
• 75+10x ≤ 300

Math Response

If you receive 50 points for signing up for a rewards card and then earn 13 points for each visit to the theater. Write an inequality that shows how many visits you need to make if it takes 100 points to earn a free movie ticket, where x represents the number of visits.

Type answer here

Correct Answer: 13x+50\ge100

Deg^°

Rad

Multiple Choice

Mason needs to order new supplies for the restaurant he works at. The shop needs at least 300 forks, there are currently 175 forks, forks are sold online in sets of 20. Which inequality can be used to determine f, the minimum number of fork sets he needs to buy?

• $$175+20f\ge300$$

• $$175+20f\le300$$

• $$175+20f<300$$

• $$175+20f>300$$