Answer:
The number would be greater then 36.
Step-by-step explanation:
Let x represent the unknown number. The opposite of this number would be represented by -x.
1/3 of this is found by multiplying by 1/3; this gives us
1/3(-x)
Since it is less than 12, this gives us
1/3(-x) < 12
To cancel the 1/3, we can multiply both sides by 3:
1/3(-x)(3) < 12(3)
-x < 36
We can cancel the negative by dividing both sides by -1. When we multiply or divide an inequality by a negative number we flip the inequality:
-x/-1 < 36/-1
x > 36
Our number must be greater than 36.
