Cracking The SAT Premium

Here’s an example:

If  –8  <   –    m  +   1   ≤   –    ,  what    is  one possible    value   of  m?

Here’s How to Crack It

First work on the left side of the equation: –8 < – m + 1.

5(−8) < 5

–40 <   –3m +   5

–40 –   5   <   –3m +   5   –   5

–45 <   –3m

>

15  >   m

Then work on the right side of the equation: ‒ m + 1 ≤ −

• m + 1 – ≤ – –1
  
  
  • m ≤ –
  
  
  
  

–3m ≤   –21

m   ≥   7

Once you have both pieces of the inequality simplified, you just need to put them back together.

If 15 > m and m ≥ 7, then 15 > m ≥ 7, but this inequality doesn’t make logical sense. Generally,