Mastering Inequalities: Real-Life Word Problems for 8th Graders

1. Sarah has 3 times as many marbles as Tom. If Tom has x marbles, write an inequality to show that Sarah has more than 2x marbles. What is the inequality?

• 3x < 2x

• x > 2x

• 3x = 2x

• 3x > 2x

2. A store sells notebooks for $2 each and pens for $1 each. If you buy x notebooks and y pens, write an inequality to represent that your total cost is less than $20. What is the inequality?

• 3x + y < 20

• 2x + y > 20

• 2x + y < 20

• x + 2y < 20

3. A gardener has 5 more flowers than the number of bushes he has. If the number of bushes is represented by b, write an inequality to show that the number of flowers is at least 2b. What is the inequality?

• b + 5 >= 2b

• b + 5 = 2b

• b + 5 < 2b

• b + 5 > 2b

4. In a class, the number of boys is twice the number of girls. If the number of girls is g, write an inequality to express that the number of boys is greater than 3g. What is the inequality?

• 3g > 2g

• g < 3g

• 2g > 3g

• g > 2g

5. A car rental company charges a flat fee of $30 plus $0.50 per mile driven. If you drive m miles, write an inequality to show that your total cost is less than $100. What is the inequality?

• 30 + 0.50m < 100

• 30 + 0.50m = 100

• 30 + 0.50m ≤ 100

• 30 + 0.50m > 100

6. A baker makes cookies and brownies. If the number of cookies is c and the number of brownies is b, write an inequality to represent that the total number of treats is at least 50. What is the inequality?

• c + b >= 50

• c + b = 50

• c + b < 50

• c + b <= 50

7. A school is planning a field trip and needs to raise at least $500. If each student contributes x dollars, write an inequality to show that the number of students, s, must satisfy the inequality 5s > 500. What is the inequality?

• s > 100

• 5s > 500

• 5s < 500

• 5s = 500

8. A movie theater has 200 seats. If x seats are sold for adults and y seats for children, write an inequality to represent that the total number of seats sold is less than 200. What is the inequality?

• x + y < 200

• x + y = 200

• x + y > 200

• x + y ≤ 200

9. A pet store has cats and dogs. If the number of cats is c and the number of dogs is d, write an inequality to show that the total number of pets is at least 30. What is the inequality?

• c + d >= 30

• c + d > 30

• c + d = 30

• c + d < 30

10. A student has 4 more books than notebooks. If the number of notebooks is n, write an inequality to express that the number of books is less than 2n. What is the inequality?

• n + 4 > 2n

• n + 4 < 2n

• n - 4 < 2n

• n + 4 = 2n