Solved Examples and Worksheet for Writing Inequalities to Represent the Situations

Q1It cost 3 cents to copy a page. William has only $1.23 to spend on copying. Express the number of pages he can copy as an inequality.

A. x ≥ 41
B. x > 41
C. x ≤ 41
D. x < 41

Step: 1
$1.23 = 123 cents.
  [Converting dollars to cents]
Step: 2
Let x be the number of pages he can copy.
Step: 3
3x ≤ 123
  [Original inequality.]
Step: 4
3x31233
  [Divide each side by 3.]
Step: 5
x ≤ 41
  [Simplify.]
Correct Answer is :   x ≤ 41
Q2Jimmy & Sunny have $12 each. Sunny spends $5 on jellybeans, while Jimmy spends less on jellybeans. Which of the inequalities describes the money m left with Jimmy?
A. m > 12
B. m > 7
C. m ≥ 12
D. m < 7

Step: 1
Out of $12, Sunny spends $5 while Jimmy spends less than $5.
  [From the problem.]
Step: 2
Sunny has $7 left with him and Jimmy has more than $7.
  [Money left = money initially had - money spent.]
Step: 3
So, the inequality for the money left with Jimmy is m > 7.
  [m is the money left with Jimmy.]
Correct Answer is :   m > 7
Q3Sheela had more than $87 in her savings account. She withdrew $59 from her savings account. Which of the following inequalities best suits the balance amount m, in her savings account?
A. m ≤ 28
B. m < 28
C. m ≥ 28
D. m > 28

Step: 1
Sheela withdrew $59 from her savings account, which had more than $87.
Step: 2
The balance amount in her savings bank account will be more than 87 - 59= $28.
Step: 3
The inequality for the balance amount m is m > 28.
Correct Answer is :   m > 28
Q4Which of the choices best describes the sentence, 'No more than 11 people can sit in the safari van'?

A. p ≤ 11
B. p < 11
C. p > 11
D. p ≥ 11

Step: 1
Let p be the number of people who can sit in the safari van.
Step: 2
People p, who can sit in the safari van, is no more than 11.
Step: 3
The inequality is p ≤ 11.
Correct Answer is :   p ≤ 11
Q5Andy delivers bread packets to more than 66 families living in Dugway each day. Which of the following inequalities best describes the situation?
A. b ≤ 66
B. b > 66
C. b < 66
D. b ≥ 66

Step: 1
Let b be the bread packets delivered to the families living in Dugway.
Step: 2
Bread packets b, that Andy delivers to families living in Dugway are more than 66.
Step: 3
The inequality is b > 66.
Correct Answer is :   b > 66
Q6Which of the following inequalities best describes the situation? Mr. Charlie had no less than 20 computers in his office.
A. c ≥ 20
B. c ≤ 20
C. c < 20
D. c > 20

Step: 1
Let c be the number of computers in the office.
Step: 2
Mr. Charlie had no less than 20 computers in his office.
Step: 3
The inequality is c ≥ 20.
Correct Answer is :   c ≥ 20
Q7Define a variable and write an inequality that describes the statement.
Team A needs no less than 15 points to win a basketball match over Team B.

A. p < 15
B. p ≥ 15
C. p > 15
D. p ≤ 15

Step: 1
Let p be the number of points that team A needs.
Step: 2
Team A needs no less than 15 points.
Step: 3
The inequality that describes the statement is p ≥ 15.
Correct Answer is :   p ≥ 15
Q8The Library in John's school has no more than 5000 books. Which of the following inequalities best describes the situation when books are represented by b?
A. b < 5000
B. b ≤ 5000
C. b > 5000
D. b ≥ 5000

Step: 1
John's school library has no more than 5000 books.
Step: 2
The inequality is b ≤ 5000.
Correct Answer is :   b ≤ 5000
Q9Dr. Arthur wanted no less than 12 surgical lights in the surgery room. Which of the following inequalities best describes the situation when lights are represented by l?
A. l > 12
B. l ≥ 12
C. l ≤ 12
D. l < 12

Step: 1
Dr. Arthur wanted no less than 12 surgical lights in the surgery room.
Step: 2
The inequality is l ≥ 12.
Correct Answer is :   l ≥ 12
Q10Jeff bought a pair of Guess jeans, which cost less than $50. Which of the following inequalities best describes the situation when the cost price is represented by p?

A. p ≤ 50
B. p < 50
C. p > 50
D. p ≥ 50

Step: 1
Jeff bought a Guess jeans that costs less than $50.
Step: 2
The inequality is p < 50.
Correct Answer is :   p < 50
Q11Mr. Joe's garage consisted no less than 5 cars. Which of the following inequalities best describes the situation when the number of cars is represented by c?
A. c ≥ 5
B. c < 5
C. c > 5
D. c ≤ 5

Step: 1
Mr. Joe's garage consisted no less than 5 cars.
Step: 2
The inequality is c ≥ 5.
Correct Answer is :   c ≥ 5
Q12Ms. Wilma takes no more than 7 cooking classes in a week. Which of the following inequalities best describes the situation when the number of classes Wilma takes is represented by c?

A. c < 7
B. c ≤ 7
C. c > 7
D. c ≥ 7

Step: 1
Ms. Wilma takes no more than 7 cooking classes a week.
Step: 2
The inequality is c ≤ 7.
Correct Answer is :   c ≤ 7
Q13The zoo has no less than 25 elephants. Which of the following inequalities best describes the situation when the number of elephants is represented by e?

A. e ≤ 25
B. e > 25
C. e ≥ 25
D. e < 25

Step: 1
The zoo has no less than 25 elephants.
Step: 2
The inequality is e ≥ 25.
Correct Answer is :   e ≥ 25
Q14Mr. and Mrs. Andrew expect at most 300 guests for their house-warming party. Which of the following inequalities best describes the sentence when the number of guests is represented by g?
A. g < 300
B. g ≤ 300
C. g ≥ 300
D. g > 300

Step: 1
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew expect at most 300 guests for their house-warming party.
Step: 2
The number of guests is represented by g.
Step: 3
The inequality is g ≤ 300.
Correct Answer is :   g ≤ 300
Q15The parking lot at Mr. Chris's office can accommodate no more than 35 cars. Which of the following inequality best describes the situation when the number of cars is represented by c?

A. c > 35
B. c ≥ 35
C. c < 35
D. c ≤ 35

Step: 1
The parking lot at Mr. Chris's office can accommodated no more than 35 cars.
Step: 2
The number of cars is represented by c.
Step: 3
The inequality is c ≤ 35.
Correct Answer is :   c ≤ 35