Using the properties of inequality, justify both steps in solving the inequality 25m−7≤17

.

1 answer

To solve the inequality \( 25m - 7 \leq 17 \), let's go through the steps and justify each of them using properties of inequalities.

Step 1: Isolate the term with \( m \)

We want to get \( 25m \) by itself on one side of the inequality. To do this, we'll add 7 to both sides of the inequality.

\[ 25m - 7 + 7 \leq 17 + 7 \]

This simplifies to:

\[ 25m \leq 24 \]

Justification: Adding the same number (in this case, 7) to both sides of an inequality does not change the direction of the inequality. This property states that if \( a \leq b \), then \( a + c \leq b + c \) for any real number \( c \).


Step 2: Solve for \( m \)

Next, we divide both sides of the inequality by 25 to isolate \( m \).

\[ \frac{25m}{25} \leq \frac{24}{25} \]

This simplifies to:

\[ m \leq \frac{24}{25} \]

Justification: Dividing both sides of an inequality by a positive number (in this case, 25) also does not change the direction of the inequality. This property states that if \( a \leq b \) and \( c > 0 \), then \( \frac{a}{c} \leq \frac{b}{c} \).


Putting it all together, the solution to the inequality \( 25m - 7 \leq 17 \) is:

\[ m \leq \frac{24}{25} \]