Question 26·Medium·Linear Inequalities in One or Two Variables
Three times a number is at least greater than times the value of . If , what is the least possible value of ?
(Express the answer as an integer)
For word problems about inequalities, first translate the English into algebra step by step: identify expressions (like "three times " or "8 greater than "), then the comparison words ("at least" means , "at most" means ). Once the inequality is written correctly, immediately substitute any given values (like ) to reduce it to a one-variable inequality, solve using the usual steps (undo multiplication or addition), and finally interpret the solution set to decide which specific value the question is asking for (here, the smallest value that still satisfies the inequality).
Hints
Turn the sentence into symbols
Write an inequality using and : "three times " is , and " times " is . Remember that "at least" corresponds to a (greater than or equal to) sign.
Be careful with "8 greater than"
"8 greater than times the value of " means you start with and then add 8, so that part should look like , not and not .
Use the given value of q and solve
After you write the inequality , substitute and simplify the right-hand side. You should get an inequality of the form (a number). Then divide both sides by 3 and think: what value of just barely satisfies this inequality?
Desmos Guide
Compute the boundary value for p
In a new expression line, type (-2 * (-5) + 8) / 3 to represent . The numerical result that Desmos shows is the least possible value of that satisfies the original inequality.
Step-by-step Explanation
Translate the words into an inequality
"Three times a number " becomes .
" times the value of " becomes .
"8 greater than times the value of " means (you add 8 to ).
"Is at least" means "greater than or equal to," written as .
So the sentence translates to the inequality
This relates and . The next step is to use the given value of .
Substitute the given value of q
We are told that . Substitute for in the inequality:
Now simplify the right-hand side:
So the inequality becomes
Now solve this inequality for .
Solve the inequality for p and interpret
To isolate in , divide both sides by 3. Since 3 is positive, the inequality direction stays the same:
This means can be 6 or any number greater than 6. The least possible value that still satisfies the inequality is when equals the boundary value, so the least possible value of is 6.