Question

One third of the opposite of a number is less than 12

Answer 1

would it be 6 because if it is third half it

Answer 2

Answer:

The number would be greater then 36.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x represent the unknown number.  The opposite of this number would be represented by -x.

1/3 of this is found by multiplying by 1/3; this gives us

1/3(-x)

Since it is less than 12, this gives us

1/3(-x) < 12

To cancel the 1/3, we can multiply both sides by 3:

1/3(-x)(3) < 12(3)

-x < 36

We can cancel the negative by dividing both sides by -1.  When we multiply or divide an inequality by a negative number we flip the inequality:

-x/-1 < 36/-1

x > 36

Our number must be greater than 36.