Solving 2-Step Inequalities MAZE Activity

Solve two-step inequalities of the form px + q > r or px + q < r by applying inverse operations in the correct order.

Reverse the inequality symbol when multiplying or dividing both sides by a negative number.

Verify a solution's correctness by checking whether it produces a continuous, connected path through the maze.

Have students complete the separate work-space page first, since it lists all twenty starting inequalities with room to show each step before they trace the maze.

Use the built-in self-checking design as a formative check: a broken or dead-end trail through the maze tells a student immediately that one of their solutions is wrong.

Pull out the negative-coefficient problems, like -9x + 1 > -44 and -2x + 5 < 17, for a short warm-up on reversing the inequality symbol before assigning the full maze.

Two-step inequality solving — students isolate the variable in problems such as x/4 - 8 < 2 and 1/2x - 14 ≥ -12 using two inverse operations in sequence.

Inequality symbol reversal — several maze boxes require dividing or multiplying by a negative coefficient (e.g., -9x + 1 > -44), testing whether students correctly flip the inequality direction.

Self-verification through maze logic — students confirm their own accuracy by checking whether their solved boxes form one continuous trail from Start to the exit.