Two-step Inequalities and Their Applications

This lecture series provides examples of two-step inequalities and their applications. Watch the videos and complete the interactive exercises.

Two-step inequality word problems

Answers

1. \frac{1}{15}(60-s) \geq 3

Darcie wants to donate a minimum of 3 blankets.

Will Darcie meet her goal if she crochets.. Response
Less than 3 blankets? No
Exactly 3 blankets? Yes
More than 3 blankets? Yes
Conclusion Total blankets \geq 3






If Darcie skips s days, then she will crochet for 60 -s days. Darcie crochets at a rate of \frac {1}{15} of a blanket per day, so she can crochet a total of \frac{1}{15}(60-s) blankets.

This amount must be greater than or equal to 3 blankets, so the inequality is:

\frac{1}{15}(60-s) \geq 3

To solve the inequality, let's start by multiplying both sides by 15. Remember that when we multiply an inequality by a negative number, the inequality sign reverses.

\begin{aligned}
\frac{1}{15}(60-s) & \geq 3 \\
15 \cdot \frac{1}{15}(60-s) & \geq 15 \cdot 3 \\
60-s & \geq 45 \\
60-s-60 & \geq 45-60 \\
-s & \geq-15 \\
-s \cdot-1 & \leq-15 \cdot-1 \\
s & \leq 15 \\
\end{aligned}

Darcie can skip no more than 15 days of crocheting to meet her goal.

To graph the inequality s \leq 15, we first draw a circle at 15. This circle divides the number line into two sections: one that contains solutions to the inequality and one that does not.

The solution includes the point s=15, so the circle at 15 filled in.

Because the solution to the inequality says that s \leq 15, this means that solutions are numbers to the left of 15.

The inequality is:

\frac{1}{15}(60-s) \geq 3

The graph of the solution of the inequality, s \leq 15, looks like this:


2. The inequality is: m+\frac{1}{4} m+\frac{3}{2} m > 22The solution set is C: m > 8.

Mustafa, Heloise, and Gia have written more than a combined total of 22 articles for the school newspaper.

Is the total number of articles..  Response
Less than 22 articles? No
Exactly 22 articles? No
More than 22 articles? Yes
Conclusion Total articles  > 22






Mustafa has written m articles. Heloise has written \frac{1}{4} m articles. Gia has written \frac{3}{2} m articles.

They have written a combined total of m+\frac{1}{4} m+\frac{3}{2} m articles.

This must be more than 22 articles, so the inequality is:

m+\frac{1}{4} m+\frac{3}{2} m > 22

Let's start by combining like terms.

\begin{aligned}
m+\frac{1}{4} m+\frac{3}{2} m & > 22 \\
\frac{4}{4} m+\frac{1}{4} m+\frac{6}{4} m & > 22 \\
\frac{11}{4} m & > 22 \\
\frac{4}{11} \cdot \frac{11}{4} m & > \frac{4}{11} \cdot 22 \\
m & > 8
\end{aligned}

Mustafa has written more than 8articles.

The inequality is:

m+\frac{1}{4} m+\frac{3}{2} m > 22

The solution set is m > 8.


3. The inequality is:  6 +4 p > 17. Kim's team scored a minimum of 3 runs per inning.

Kim's team needed more than 17 runs to win.

Would Kim's team win with.. Response
Less than 17 runs? No
Exactly 17 runs? No
More than 17 runs? Yes
Conclusion Total runs  > 17






Kim's team already had 6 runs. Since they scored p runs per inning for 4 innings, they scored an additional 4p runs, so Kim's team had a total 6 + 4p runs.

This must be greater than 17, so the inequality is:

6+4 p > 17

We can start by subtracting 6 from both sides of the inequality:

\begin{aligned}
6+4 p & > 17 \\
6-6+4 p & > 17-6 \\
4 p & > 11 \\
\frac{4 p}{4} & > \frac{11}{4} \\
p & > 2 \frac{3}{4}
\end{aligned}

Kim's team must score more than 2 \frac{3}{4} runs per inning to win the game. So Kim's team must have scored a minimum of 3 runs per inning.

The inequality is:

6+4 p > 17

Kim's team scored a minimum of 3 runs per inning.


4. The inequality is: 3+1.2 c \geq 13.50

Janey wants to earn enough money to buy a CD for $13.50

Can Janey buy the CD if she has.. Response
Less than $13.50? No
Exactly $13.50? Yes
More than $13.50? Yes
Conclusion Total dollars \geq 13.50






If Janie does c chores, she will earn $1.2c dollars for doing chores, plus 3 dollars she already has. The amount she has is:

3+1.2 c

This amount must be greater than or equal to $13.50, so the inequality is:

3+1.2 c \geq 13.50

To solve the inequality, let's start by subtracting 3 from both sides of the inequality:

\begin{aligned}
3+1.2 c & \geq 13.5 \\
3+1.2 c-3 & \geq 13.5-3 \\
1.2 c & \geq 10.5 \\
\frac{1.2 c}{1.2} & \geq \frac{10.5}{1.2} \\
c & \geq 8.75
\end{aligned}

Janie must do 8.75 or more chores to have enough money to purchase the CD.

To graph the inequality c \geq 8.75, we first draw a circle at 8.75. This circle divides the number line into two sections: one that contains solutions to the inequality and one that does not.

The solution includes the point c=8.75, so we fill in the circle at 8.75.

Because the solution to the inequality says that c \geq 8.75, this means that solutions are numbers to the right of 8.75.

The inequality is:

3+1.2 c \geq 13.50

The graph of the solution of the inequality c \geq 8.75 looks like this: