twice the difference of a number and 9 is at most -22

Answer 1

x = your number

2 ( x - 9 ) ≤ - 22

2 x - 18 ≤ - 22

Add 18 to both sides

2 x ≤ - 4

Divide both sides by 2

x ≤ - 2

Answer 2

2(x-9) ≤ -22

2x - 18 ≤ -22
2x ≤ -4
x ≤ -2

but the difference between a number and 9 could be
either x-9 or 9-x
Can we have 2(9-x) ≤ -22 ?
18 - 2x ≤ -22
-2x ≤ -40
x ≥ 20

if we took the difference as x -9 then x ≤ -2
if we took the difference as 9-x then x ≥ 20