Q9. Inequalities
Explanation
This is another old sat question. Inequalities show up regularly on the SAT and is something students should spend considerable time practicing.
For this equation, there are two possible routes
Simple: In the inequality 3p - 2 >= 1, simply add 4 to each side. Once you do that the inequality will become 3p + 2 >= 5. There’s your answer (A).
Alternatively, you could solve for P from the equation (P = 1). And then plug that into 3p +2 and you’d get P >=5.
Note: This question isn’t difficult but you could spend 15 seconds on it or you could spend a minute on it. That makes a difference for questions that are more challenging and more require more time. How do you recognize the simple approach? Practice. The SAT exam is predictable in many ways. The same type of questions show up over and over on the exam. Practice enough and you’ll start to see the patterns.
Lesson
Solving inequalities is similar to solving equation questions. You need to isolate the variable that needs to be solved and move all other variables and constants to the other side. The exception here is when you are multiplying or dividing by a negative. When you multiply or divide both sides by a negative number, reverse the direction of the inequality.
Want more practice questions? Check out the Worthington Prep SAT Tutoring Questions page.