NATIONAL

SENIOR CERTIFICATE

GRADE 10

TERM 1 2023

MATHEMATICS
TASK 1: INVESTIGATION (Date Tues 28th February)
EQUATIONS & INEQUALITIES

MARKS: 50

TIME: 1 hour

This question paper consists of 4 questions and 6 pages, including the cover page.

LEARNER NAME & SURNAME:

SCHOOL:

Marks
Obtained
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Investigating the four basic operations on Inequalities

Prior knowledge:
Operations on integers, number sentences, distributive property of multiplication, substitution.

 We know that when we perform any of the four basic operations ( , , , ) on both sides of an equation,
the resulting equation will still hold true.

Aim:
 The aim of this investigation is to establish if the inequalities will still hold true after performing all the
above operations.

Instructions:
 Answer all questions in the spaces provided, show all your working.

Question 1

In previous grades you learnt about the “greater than (˃)” and less than (˂)” symbols. When we use these
symbols in a number sentence, we call this number sentence an Inequality. We also use “greater than or equal
to symbols (≥)” and “less than or equal to symbols (≤)” in inequalities.

1.1 Complete the following table, then answer the questions that follow, based on your
observation from the table:

Inequality Add to both New Inequality Is the new inequality

sides true or false
example 𝟖> 𝟓 5 𝟖+𝟓 > 𝟓+𝟓 TRUE
𝟏𝟑 > 𝟏𝟎
1.1.1 2 > −3 3 (2)

1.1.2 9 < 13 8 (2)

1.1.3 −1 < 6 −1 (2)

1.1.4 −8 > −10 −8 (2)

1.2 When you add the same number to both sides of an inequality, is the inequality (1)
still true?
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1.3 Explain how you know that your guess/conclusion/conjecture for adding a (1)
number, holds for subtracting the same number.

[10]

Question 2

2.1 Complete the following table, then answer the questions that follow, based on your observation from the
table: We will investigate dividing both sides of an inequality by an integer.

Inequality Divide both New Inequality Is the new inequality

sides by: true or false
example 𝟖> 𝟐 2 𝟖 𝟐
>
𝟐 𝟐
TRUE
4> 𝟏

2.1.1 4<8 4 (2)

2.1.2 12 > −15 3 (2)

2.1.3 −16 < 12 −4 (2)

2.1.4 15 > 5 −5 (2)

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We will investigate multiplying both sides of an inequality by an integer.

Inequality Multiply New Inequality Is the new inequality

both sides true or false
by:
example 5<7 3 5×3< 7×3

15 < 21 TRUE

2.1.5 3 > 2 2 (2)

2.1.6 3>2 2 (2)

2.1.7 −2 < 7 4 (2)

2.1.8 −2 < 7 4 (2)

2.2 What do you notice when you divide both sides of an inequality by the same (1)
negative number?

2.3 What could you do to make the inequalities that are not true into true statements? (1)

2.4 In the inequality 3 > 2, if you multiply both sides by a positive number, do you (1)
have to reverse the direction of the inequality sign?

2.5 In the inequality −2 < 7 , if you multiply both sides by a negative number, do you (1)
have to reverse the direction of the inequality sign?

[20]
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Question 3

For each of the following word problems, write down an algebraic inequality, using the variable x .

Example: If seven is subtracted from a number, after the number is divided by three, then the result is less
than or equal to eleven.
x
Answer:  7  11
3

Problem Equation or Inequality

3.1 Twice a number decreased by four is less than 8. (2)

3.2 Four minus three times a number is less than (2)

twenty-five.
3.3 Three times a number lies between negative three (2)
and six.
3.4 Negative nine times the difference between twice (3)
a number and three is greater than or equal to nine.
[9]

Question 4

4.1 Solve the following inequality by following the given steps:

−𝟑(𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑) ≥ 𝒙 − 𝟓 (5)
Step 1 Use the distributive property to get
rid of any brackets.

Step 2 Write all the variable terms on the

left and the constants on the right
using addition or subtraction until
you have single terms on each side
of the inequality sign.

Step 3 Eliminate the coefficient using

multiplication or division.

Step 4 Determine whether the solution is

true for a substitution of 𝑥 = −1.
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4.2 Solve for 𝑥:

−3𝑥 + 6 ≤ 2𝑥 + 1 (3)

4.3 Solve for y :

7 y
 5  7 (3)
3

[11]
TOTAL: 50 marks