Math Is Fun Forum

Hello All!!

I need help...lots of help...I need it broken down Barney-Style!! I am just not understanding how to do linear inequalities.

How do you know which side to start, which side to bring the number, which side to bring the letters...and when to reverse the greater/less/equal to signs. I need to understand why and how things are done....and it really is not making sense to me.

I am using ALEKS but there are portions of the explanation that are not mentioned as I guess it is implied. I even have Algebra for Dummies and again, it is not broken down step-by-step so that I can understand wby and how I am doing each step.

Here is an example of a problem:

3z-3<-2/3z-7

(2/3z is a fraction, not sure how to do that otherwise)

Another example is:

-4/3y-7>5y-8
           - (that is supposed to be directly under the greater than - I am assuming it is greater than only because the 7 is greater than the 5, not that I know the if it really is given the other numbers in the equation).

Okay, if someone has some time, can explain this I would REALLY appreciate it. I Do not think that you can dummy it too far...in fact, I would really appreciate it if you would...the easier to understand the better...

Thanks in advance!!