document.write( "Question 692859: The solution for x-7<-12 is x<-5 . My text book recommends checking the solution by substituting -5 into the equation x-7=-12 to see if -5 is the correct boundary point, if -12=-12 then -5 is the correct boundary point.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "My question is this, why & where does the idea of plugging in -5 into x-7=-12 to see if it's the correct endpoint or boundary point come from? What does the equation have to do with the inequality???\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Thanks
\n" ); document.write( "Ralph
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #427121 by josmiceli(19441)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Since you get \"+x+%3C+-5+\", my method is to
\n" ); document.write( "check by saying \"+x+=+-5.001+\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"+x+-+7+%3C+-12+\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"+-5.001+-+7+%3C+-12+\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"+-12.001+%3C+-12+\"
\n" ); document.write( "This is true
\n" ); document.write( "------------------
\n" ); document.write( "What they say is \" For what value of \"+x+\" does
\n" ); document.write( "the inequality begin to fail ?\"
\n" ); document.write( "They could have said it fails for
\n" ); document.write( "\"+x+%3C+-4.999+\", but it also fails for
\n" ); document.write( "\"+x+%3C+-4.9999+\" , and also for
\n" ); document.write( "\"+x+%3C+-4.99999+\"
\n" ); document.write( "This approaches \"+x+=+-5+\"
\n" ); document.write( "-------------------------
\n" ); document.write( "Also, they could say the inequality passes for
\n" ); document.write( "\"+x+%3E+-5.001+\", but also for
\n" ); document.write( "\"+x+%3E+-5.0001+\" also for
\n" ); document.write( "\"+x+%3E+-5.00001+\"
\n" ); document.write( "It does not pass when
\n" ); document.write( "\"+x+=+-5+\"
\n" ); document.write( "Hope this helps\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" );