document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=130435>Question 130435</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> When graphing an inequality for that absolute value of an equation or number, how do you tell which way to graph the solutions( answers)?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Ex:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "    18-2x<20<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Q: How will your number line look when you graph it?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "   How can you tell which where to plot ? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #95273 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=ilana><B>ilana(307)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-10.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=ilana><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=95273\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> You can always tell by checking one point on the line.  Here is a step-by step for your example:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "First, pretend you have an equation.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "18-2x=20<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-2x=2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=-1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Now look back at the inequality. Since there was a \"less than\" sign, as opposed to \"less than or equal to\", put a circle (open dot) at x=-1 on the number line.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Now try a point to the left or right.  x=0 is usually an easy one to try.  If the inequality remains true (such as 4<5), that is included in the solution.  If the inequality is false (such as 5<4), the solution is the other side of the number line.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "18-2x<20<BR>\n" );
document.write( "18-2(0)<20<BR>\n" );
document.write( "18-0<20<BR>\n" );
document.write( "18<20<BR>\n" );
document.write( "This is true, so 0 is part of the solution. So the number line should have a circle at x=-1, and an arrow to the right.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "If you try other points to the right of -1, they will all work.  If you try points to the left, they will not.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "You also could solve this without plotting points.  Just switch the directions of the inequality sign if you multiply or divide by a negative number.  Otherwise, keep the sign the same.  Here is your example again:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "18-2x<20<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-2x<2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x>-1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "So x can be anything bigger than -1, so the d=shaded arrow would go to the right on the number line.<BR>\n" );
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