Mississippi Math FA.A.9

MathGrades 9–12Algebra (A) Equations and Inequalities

The Standard

Solve word problems leading to inequalities of the form px + q > r or px + q < r, where p, q, and r are specific rational numbers. Solve inequalities of these forms fluently. (7.EE.4b)

2025 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Mathematics

Teacher's field guide

What This Standard Means

What Students Need to Do: Students turn word problems into inequalities with decimals or fractions. They solve for the unknown and decide which answers make sense in the story.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given a $2 fee and $3.50 per ticket with less than $20 to spend, a student writes 3.5x + 2 < 20 and finds a limit of five tickets. They check that five tickets cost $19.50 and six cost $23.
Common Misconceptions: Students may use an equals sign for a spending limit or include the limit when the problem says less than. They may forget to reverse the inequality sign when dividing by a negative number, or give a fraction of a ticket as the answer.
How to Assess It: A tank starts with 12 liters and loses 0.75 liter per minute. After how many whole minutes will it still have more than 6 liters? Write and solve an inequality.

Lesson moves

Ways to Teach It

Give pairs paper number lines and counters to mark every whole-number solution to 0.5x + 2 < 5.
Ask why -0.5x + 3 > 1 gives x < 4, then have students test x = 6 against both claims.
Have pairs match '$3.50 per ticket plus $2, under $20' to 3.5x + 2 < 20, then reject six tickets.
Use an $8 phone fee and $0.25 per text; find how many whole texts keep the bill under $15.

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