Question

How do you solve `m/-7< 1.2`?

Answer 1

To solve this you would multiply both sides of the equation by -7 and change the `<` sign to`>`.

Explanation:

When solving `m/(-7) < 1.2` it is important to remember that
if you multiply or divide by a negative number then the greater than or less than sign must be flipped.

Method 1

Multiply each side by `-7` and flip the sign.

`(-7)m/(-7)<1.2(-7)`

`m > -8.4`

Method 2

To solve without multiplying by a negative:

Multiply each side by 7:
`(7)(m)/(-7)<1.2 (7)`

`-m<8.4`

Subtract `-m` from each side of the inequality.
`0<-m+8.4`

Subtract -8.4 from each side of the inequality.
`-8.4 < m`

which is the same as
`m > -8.4`

Check

Pick a value for `m` and substitute it into the original inequality.
Since `0` is greater than `-8.4` we can use that to test our answer.

`m/(-7)<1.2`

`0/(-7)<1.2`

`0<1.2`

Since this is a true statement our problem checks.