document.write( "Question 316645: Why does the inequality sign change when both sides are multiplied or divided by a negative number, and does this always happen with equations. Can you give me an example to go by? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #226607 by stanbon(75887)\"\" \"About 
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Why does the inequality sign change when both sides are multiplied or divided by a negative number, and does this always happen with equations. Can you give me an example to go by?
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\n" ); document.write( "It doesn't happen with equations: only with inequalities.
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\n" ); document.write( "Example:
\n" ); document.write( "-2 < 5
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply both sides by -1 and DON'T reverse the inequality.
\n" ); document.write( "You get:
\n" ); document.write( "2 < -5
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\n" ); document.write( "But that is not true.
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\n" ); document.write( "Start again:
\n" ); document.write( "-2 < 5
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply both sides by -1 and DO reverse the inequality.
\n" ); document.write( "2 > -5
\n" ); document.write( "---
\n" ); document.write( "That is true.
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\n" ); document.write( "This illustrates the need to reverse the inequality
\n" ); document.write( "when you multiply by a negative or divide by a negative.
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\n" ); document.write( "Cheers,
\n" ); document.write( "Stan H. \n" ); document.write( "
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