An inequality or equation in algebra that has more than one operation requires two steps in order to be solved.

     First, you must simplify by using the inverse of addition or subtraction.  Second, you should simplify even further by using the inverse of multiplication or division.

     When doing algebra homework, it is important to remember that when you multiply or divide an inequality by a negative number, you must reverse the inequality symbol.

   Here's a two-step equation.  You can start with the variable x to describe what is being done to x in the equation.

4x – 6 = 30       This is the equation

4x                     First, x is multiplied by 4

4x – 6               Next, 6 is subtracted from the term 4x

4x – 6 = 30       You get a result of 30

     So, you should start with x, multiply by 4, subtract 6, and the answer is 30

     You can work backwards to find out what number can work in the equation.  By working backwards and using the inverse operations, you can solve the equation.  We will start with the result of 30

30              You can start with the result

30 + 6        Work backwards by adding 6, this is the inverse of subtracting 6

30 + 6        Now, you can divide by 4 which is the inverse of multiplying by 4

    4

  36           We get an answer of 9

   4

     Here it is clear that you can use the inverse operations and work backwards to solve the equation.

     You can solve two-step inequalities in exactly the same way as solving the above equalities. Simply work backwards, using the inverse operations, to find at the solution.

2x – 7 > 11

2x – 7 + 7 > 11 + 7    Here we used the inverse of subtracting 7

2x  > 18

2x  > 18         Here, we use the inverse of multiplying by 2

 2       2

x > 9