The temperature in Toronto at noon during a winter day measured 4°C. The temperature started dropping 2° every hour. Which inequality can be used to find the number of hours, x, after which the temperature will measure below -3°C?

What are your choices? What is your answer?

To find the number of hours, x, after which the temperature will measure below -3°C, we can set up an inequality.

First, let's consider the temperature dropping 2°C every hour. Since the initial temperature is 4°C, after x hours, the temperature will have dropped by 2x degrees.

Therefore, the inequality can be written as:

4 - 2x < -3

To solve this inequality, we can rearrange it:

-2x < -3 - 4

-2x < -7

Now, divide both sides of the inequality by -2. Remember that when dividing or multiplying by a negative number, we must reverse the inequality sign:

x > (-7) / (-2)

x > 7/2

Simplifying further, we get:

x > 3.5

Therefore, to find the number of hours after which the temperature will measure below -3°C, the inequality is:

x > 3.5