Answer: [tex]a \le 3[/tex]
'a' can be any number less than 3, or 'a' can be equal to 3.
===============================================
Explanation:
We follow the order of operations PEMDAS in reverse when we want to isolate a variable. So we start with the subtraction step and undo that. To undo subtraction, we use addition. This is why we add 4 to both sides as shown in step 2 below. This rule is the additive property of inequality. The next thing to undo is the multiplication. Recall that 3a is the same as 3*a or "3 times a". Division is the opposite of multiplication, so we divide both sides by 3 in step 4. The division property of inequality is used here.
Here are all the steps shown
- step 1: [tex]3a-4 \le 5[/tex]
- step 2: [tex]3a-4+4 \le 5+4[/tex] (additive property of inequality)
- step 3: [tex]3a \le 9[/tex]
- step 4: [tex]\frac{3a}{3} \le \frac{9}{3}[/tex] (division property of inequality)
- step 5: [tex]a \le 3[/tex]
