Question

write a rule for determining possible values of a variable in an inequality

Answer 1

you have to isolate the variable to get it by itself

Answer 2

Absolute Value Rules

If you start with an "=" then you will have an "or" statement.

If you start with a < (less than) or a (less than or equal to) then you will have an and statement. 

If you start with a > (greater than) or a (greater than or equal to symbol then you will have an "or" statement.

Hope that was what you were looking for.
:)