MSTAR Practice Worksheet

Lesson 8-5: Understand Inequalities and Their Solutions

Grade 6 Mathematics · Standard 6.AT.9

Name: Date:

These are MSTAR-style questions written for this curriculum to rehearse the format. They are not official Maryland assessment items. MSTAR — Maryland's new state test, first given in spring 2027 — uses the same kinds of questions you see here: selected response, select-all, two-part evidence questions, and written responses.

Part A — Skills Check

Warm up with the lesson's core skills — one best answer each.

Question 1Selected response · 1 point

Which graph represents x < 5?

AOpen circle at 5, shaded left
BClosed circle at 5, shaded left
COpen circle at 5, shaded right
DClosed circle at 5, shaded right

Question 2Selected response · 1 point

Which graph represents x ≥ 3?

AClosed circle at 3, shaded right
BOpen circle at 3, shaded right
CClosed circle at 3, shaded left
DOpen circle at 3, shaded left

Question 3Selected response · 1 point

Which graph represents x > 8?

AOpen circle at 8, shaded right
BClosed circle at 8, shaded right
COpen circle at 8, shaded left
DClosed circle at 8, shaded left

Question 4Selected response · 1 point

Which graph represents x ≤ 10?

AClosed circle at 10, shaded left
BOpen circle at 10, shaded left
CClosed circle at 10, shaded right
DOpen circle at 10, shaded right

Question 5Selected response · 1 point

A number line shows a closed circle at 8 and is shaded to the left. Which inequality does this represent?

Ax ≤ 8
Bx < 8
Cx ≥ 8
Dx > 8

Question 6Selected response · 1 point

Clue: the witness ran more than 15 feet, so d > 15. On the number line, what do you draw?

AOpen circle at 15, shade right
BClosed circle at 15, shade right
COpen circle at 15, shade left
DClosed circle at 15, shade left

Part B — Test-Format Questions

These match the state test's formats: two-part questions, select-all, and written responses.

Question 7Two-part question

Part A

A number line shows an open circle at 7, and the shading covers the numbers to the right of 7. Which inequality does this graph represent?

Fill in the bubble next to the one best answer.

Ax > 7
Bx ≥ 7
Cx < 7
Dx ≤ 7

Part B

Answer Part A before Part B — Part B asks about your reasoning.

Why is the circle at 7 open instead of closed?

AAn open circle is used whenever the shading points to the right.
BAn open circle shows that 7 is included in the solution set.
CThe symbol > does not include 7, so 7 is not in the solution set and the boundary point stays unfilled.
DEvery inequality graph uses an open circle at its boundary point.

Question 8Select all that apply

Select ALL numbers that belong to the solution set of y ≤ 12.

Mark the box next to EVERY answer that is true. More than one is correct.

A12
B11.5
C12.5
D0
E20

Part C — Show Your Thinking

Answer in writing, the way the state test's constructed responses work.

Question 9Written response · 2 points

A theme park has two rides. Ride A requires height h > 48 inches. Ride B requires height h ≥ 48 inches. A child is exactly 48 inches tall. Which ride can they go on? Explain using number line graphs for both inequalities.

Write your answer in complete sentences. Show or explain your mathematical thinking.