Which of the following is equivalent to solving 5 - x < 2?

• A. x > 3
• B. x < 3
• C. x ≥ 3
• D. x ≤ 3

Answer: (A)

To solve 5 - x < 2, you want to isolate x and keep track of how the inequality signs work. Move the constant term by subtracting 5 from both sides: -x < -3. Then remove the negative sign in front of x by multiplying both sides by -1, which flips the inequality: x > 3. So any number greater than 3 makes the inequality true. For example, x = 4 gives 5 - 4 = 1, which is less than 2, while x = 3 or x = 2 does not satisfy the inequality. On a number line, the solution is the region to the right of 3.