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+--- Thread: HELP! Preparing for College Algebra Clep Exam (/Thread-HELP-Preparing-for-College-Algebra-Clep-Exam)
HELP! Preparing for College Algebra Clep Exam - purp!chickpot822 - 07-06-2015
I am having so much trouble in solving inequalities and trying to figure out how the signs change. The videos are helpful but for some reason I am stuck on stupid. For example, in the videos, the narrator just gives the answer without saying why the signs change. If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.
If you need specific examples, I can provide the questions on the site.
Thank you so much!
HELP! Preparing for College Algebra Clep Exam - bluebooger - 07-06-2015
I'm not positive, but I think the rule is the sign changes whenever you multiply or divide by a negative number
HELP! Preparing for College Algebra Clep Exam - cptdilbert - 07-06-2015
bluebooger Wrote:I'm not positive, but I think the rule is the sign changes whenever you multiply or divide by a negative numberThis is correct. Anytime you multiply or divide by a negative, flip the sign.
Where most people get tripped up is dealing with a variable like x.
Since it is a variable, there is no way to know if it is a negative or a positive number. If I remember correctly this topic is not covered in depth with college algebra, but you will learn how to deal with it later. To get around the problem you should never multiply or divide with a variable, so that you don't have to deal with the two possibilities for the sign.
HELP! Preparing for College Algebra Clep Exam - purp!chickpot822 - 07-07-2015
cptdilbert Wrote:This is correct. Anytime you multiply or divide by a negative, flip the sign.
Where most people get tripped up is dealing with a variable like x.
Since it is a variable, there is no way to know if it is a negative or a positive number. If I remember correctly this topic is not covered in depth with college algebra, but you will learn how to deal with it later. To get around the problem you should never multiply or divide with a variable, so that you don't have to deal with the two possibilities for the sign.
Thank you both for your replies - I have a tendency to "over-think" problems and then confuse myself. Once I get to this point my brain basically shuts down.