Twenty-seven minus 1.5 of a number (x) is not more than 36. What is the number?

Translate this into symbols: 27 - 1.5x is equal to or less than 36. Find x.

Add 1.5x to both sides, so as to make the coefficient of x positive:

27 = 36 + 1.5x, or - 9 = 1.5x, or x = - 6 but also

x > - 6

Check: let x = - 6. Is the given equation then true?

27 = 36 + 1.5 (-6) = > - 9 = - 9? Yes.

Check: let x > - 6. Is Twenty-seven minus 1.5 of a number (x) not more than 36? 27 - 1.5 (0) not more than 36? True.

Thus, x is equal to or greater than - 6.