Question

Difficulty: HardLinear Inequalities in One Variable

In the inequality 3(42x)5(xc)73(4 - 2x) - 5(x - c) \geq -7, where cc is a constant, the solution set consists of all values of xx such that x3x \leq 3. What is the value of cc?

Answer: 2.8

Answer

2.8
To find the value of cc, first simplify the inequality 3(42x)5(xc)73(4 - 2x) - 5(x - c) \geq -7 by expanding the terms using the distributive property, which yields 126x5x+5c712 - 6x - 5x + 5c \geq -7. Combining like terms gives 11x+12+5c7-11x + 12 + 5c \geq -7. Next, isolate the variable term by subtracting 1212 and 5c5c from both sides to obtain 11x195c-11x \geq -19 - 5c. Dividing both sides of the inequality by 11-11 and reversing the inequality sign results in x19+5c11x \leq \frac{19 + 5c}{11}. Given that the solution set consists of all values of xx such that x3x \leq 3, the boundary value 19+5c11\frac{19 + 5c}{11} must equal 33. Solving the equation 19+5c11=3\frac{19 + 5c}{11} = 3 gives 19+5c=3319 + 5c = 33, which simplifies to 5c=145c = 14 and results in c=2.8c = 2.8.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Distribute the constants on the left side of the inequality.
126x5x+5c712 - 6x - 5x + 5c \geq -7
Applying the distributive property simplifies the parentheses.
2
Combine the variable terms.
11x+12+5c7-11x + 12 + 5c \geq -7
Grouping like terms simplifies the inequality.
3
Subtract 1212 and 5c5c from both sides of the inequality.
11x195c-11x \geq -19 - 5c
This isolates the term containing xx.
4
Divide both sides by 11-11 and reverse the direction of the inequality.
x19+5c11x \leq \frac{19 + 5c}{11}
Dividing by a negative number requires flipping the inequality sign to maintain equivalence.
5
Set the algebraic boundary 19+5c11\frac{19 + 5c}{11} equal to the given boundary value of 33 and solve for cc.
c=2.8c = 2.8
Since the solution set is x3x \leq 3, the boundary values must be equivalent.

Key Concept

Solving multi-step linear inequalities in one variable containing parameters.
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