To start with the easier part of the question, no this will not happen in an equation, because whatever happens, both sides of the equation will remain equal and the equal sign will be an equal sign whichever way it is flipped.
When all values are turned negative, meaning negatives are either flipped or abolished, if sides were negative, and the inequality sign stays as it is, the solution will be a different range of numbers altogether, because the inequality is changed.
In theory, a should be a≥2. This can be tested by putting it back into the original inequality, like so: -3x2≥-6. This works, but what happens if a larger number is used? Using a 3, for example, it becomes clear that this cannot be right: -3x3≥-6.
If the inequality sign had been flipped, the new inequality would look like this: 3a≤6, so a≤2. This is still right, so the next step is to try this inequality with a number smaller than 2, so: -3x1≥-6. This clearly works.
The same process applies if the original inequality is positive and changes to negative. If signs are mixed, it is important to ensure that the inequality sign always faces the same sign. For instance, in this inequality -3a≤6, the sign faces the positive side. Multiplying by -1 results in 3a≥-6. The inequality sign still faces the positive side.
- Switching Signs
When all values are turned negative, meaning negatives are either flipped or abolished, if sides were negative, and the inequality sign stays as it is, the solution will be a different range of numbers altogether, because the inequality is changed.
- An Example
In theory, a should be a≥2. This can be tested by putting it back into the original inequality, like so: -3x2≥-6. This works, but what happens if a larger number is used? Using a 3, for example, it becomes clear that this cannot be right: -3x3≥-6.
If the inequality sign had been flipped, the new inequality would look like this: 3a≤6, so a≤2. This is still right, so the next step is to try this inequality with a number smaller than 2, so: -3x1≥-6. This clearly works.
The same process applies if the original inequality is positive and changes to negative. If signs are mixed, it is important to ensure that the inequality sign always faces the same sign. For instance, in this inequality -3a≤6, the sign faces the positive side. Multiplying by -1 results in 3a≥-6. The inequality sign still faces the positive side.
