the product of 3 and a number x is at most 21

can_chaser17

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the product of 3 and a number x is at most 21

i got this far...

3+6...?????

and i dont understand when a problem says "is at most" or "is at least"
 
can_chaser17 said:
the product of 3 and a number x is at most 21

i got this far...

3+6...?????
How does "6" relate to the posted exercise...? :shock:

A "product" is a multiplication, not an addition. (If they'd been talking about addition, they'd have said "the sum of".) To learn some basic "key words" for translating between English and math, try here:

. . . . .Google results for "translating word problems"

I will guess that the instructions for your exercise were "translate into a linear inequality", or perhaps "translate and solve". Either way, the lessons at the above link will help you learn how to translate "the product of 3 and x" into the appropriate expression. And since the product is 21 or less, you can then create (and, if necessary, solve) the given inequality. :wink:

can_chaser17 said:
i dont understand when a problem says "is at most" or "is at least"
"At most" means "no more than" or "less than or equal to"; "at least" means "no less than" or "greater than or equal to". For further information on these English terms, please speak with your English tutor. :D

Eliz.
 
can_chaser17 said:
the product of 3 and a number x is at most 21

i got this far...

3+6...?????

and i dont understand when a problem says "is at most" or "is at least"

You also seem to have some trouble with the word "product"

The product of two things is what you get when you MULTIPLY them.

Your problem states that the PRODUCT of 3 and some number x is AT MOST 21.

So, if you multiply 3 and x (that's what PRODUCT means), the result is at most 21.

Now, what does "at most 21" mean? It means that the result must be less than or equal to 21.

3x < 21

Can you solve this for x now?
 
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