Question

Twenty-seven minus 1.5  of a number (x) is not more than 36. What is the number?

Answer 1

Translate this into symbols:  27 - 1.5x  is equal to or less than 36.  Find x.

Add 1.5x to both sides, so as to make the coefficient of x positive:

27 = 36 + 1.5x, or    -9 = 1.5x,    or x = -6              but also
                                                        x > -6

Check:  let x = -6.   Is the given equation then true? 

27 = 36 + 1.5(-6) => -9 = -9?  Yes.

Check:  let x > -6.  Is  Twenty-seven minus 1.5  of a number (x)  not more than 36?                      27 - 1.5(0) not more than 36?  True.

Thus, x is equal to or greater than -6.