Inequalities for Word Problems

Daniel can spend no more than $40 at the fair. If admission into the fair is $10 and the rides cost $1.50 each, which inequality represents the greatest number of rides Daniel can go on?

• 10x + 1.50 ≥ 40

• 1.50x + 10 ≤ 40

• 1.50x + 10 <40

• 10x + 1.50 < 40

Joan needed $100 to buy a graphing calculator for her math class. Her neighbor will pay her $5 per hour to babysit and her Father gave her $10 for mowing the lawn. Which inequality represents the minimum amount of hours she will need to babysit in order for her to buy her calculator?

• 5x + 10 ≥ 100

• 5x - 100 ≥ 10

• 10x + 5 ≤ 100

• 5x + 10 > 100

Mrs. Scott decided that she would spend no more than $120 to buy a jacket and a skirt. If the price of the jacket was $20 more than 3 times the price of the skirt, which inequality represents the highest possible price of the skirt?

• 20x + 120 ≥ 3

• x/3 + 20 ≤ 120

• 3x + 20 ≤ 120

• 3x + 20 ≥ 120

The dance committee hired a DJ for the fall dance. The DJ charges $125 per hour in addition to $55 for an assistant. The committee wants to keep the total cost under $600. Which inequality represents the maximum amount of hours the DJ will play at the dance?

• 125x + 55 ≤ 600

• 125x + 55 ≥ 600

• 125x + 55 > 600

• 125x + 55 < 600

Triniti had $500 in a saving account at the beginning of the summer. She wants to have at least $200 in the account by the end of the summer. She withdraws $25 each week for food, clothes, and movie tickets. Which inequality represents her situation?

• 200 + 25x ≥ 500

• 500 + 25x ≥ 200

• 500 - 25x ≥ 200

• 500 - 25x ≤ 200

At the end of the day, vegetables at the farmer’s market sells for $3.00 a pound, and a basket costs $5.50. If Carol wants to buy a basket and spend no more than $10.00 total, how many pounds of vegetables can she buy?

• 3 + 5.5p < 10

• 20 = 5.5 - 3p

• 5.5 + 3p < 20

• 3p + 5.5 ≤20

A willow tree is 5.1 feet tall and grows at a rate of 2.5 feet a year. After how many years will the tree have reached no more than 60 feet tall?

• 5.1 + 2.5y ≥ 60

• 60 < 5.1 + 2.5

• 5.1 + 2.5y ≤ 60

• 5.1 + 2.5y > 60

Mona is ordering cups for her school.  Company A charges $3.50 for each cup and a one-time starter fee of $14.  Company B charges $0.50 for each trophy and a one-time starter fee of $22.  
Which inequality can be used to find x, the minimum number of cups that can be ordereed so that the total charge at Company A is less than the total charge at Company B?

• 3.5x + 14 < 0.5x + 22

• 3.5x + 14 > 0.5x + 22

• 3.5 + 14x < 0.5 + 22x

• 3.5 + 14x > 0.5 + 22x

Four times a number increased by  7 is at least 19. 

• 4x > 19

• 4x + 7 ≥ 19

• 4x < 19

• 4x + 7 ≤ 19

Ross and Chandler go to Taco Land and order sodas for a total of $3.50. They also want to order some tacos (of course), which cost $1.75 each. If they have $20, how many tacos can they buy? Which inequality best represents the situation.

• 3.50 + 1.75t > 20

• 1.75 + 3.50t ≤ 20

• 3.50 + 1.75t ≥ 20

• 1.75t + 3.50 ≤ 20