9x - 2x > 14 - 9(-x - 4) Solve it exactly as you would an equation, that is, if the " < " had been an " = ", until you get to the last step: 9x - 2x > 14 - 9(-x - 4) 7x > 14 + 9x + 36 7x > 50 + 9x -2x > 50 Now at this last step where you divide both sides by the coefficient -2, there are two rules you must remember that you don't have to remember when solving equations. 1. If you divide both sides by a POSITIVE number, LEAVE the symbol of inequality as it is. 2. If you divide both sides by a NEGATIVE number, REVERSE the symbol of inequality. In this case we divide both sides by a NEGATIVE number, namely -2. Therefore we must use rule 2 and REVERSE the symbol > to <. -2x 50 ----- < ---- -2 -2 x < -25 The graph of that looks like this <========o---------- -25 In interval notation this is abbreviated to (-infinity, -25) Edwin