Shanelle already has [tex]\$137[/tex] from babysitting. She needs at least [tex]\$625[/tex] for a new tablet. Which inequality best represents this scenario?

A. [tex]t - 137 \ \textgreater \ 625[/tex]
B. [tex]t + 137 \ \textless \ 625[/tex]
C. [tex]t + 137 \geq 625[/tex]
D. [tex]t - 137 \leq 625[/tex]

Sure! Let's go through this step-by-step.

Shanelle has some money saved up, specifically [tex]$137, from babysitting. She wants to buy a new tablet, and for that, she needs at least $[/tex]625. We need to figure out which inequality represents how much more money Shanelle needs to save or earn in order to buy the tablet.

1. Understand the Situation:
- She already has [tex]$137.
- She needs a total of at least $[/tex]625 for the tablet.

2. Set Up the Inequality:
- Let [tex]$ t $[/tex] represent the additional money Shanelle needs.
- The money she already has ([tex]$137) plus the additional money ($ t $) should be at least $[/tex]625.

3. Form the Inequality:
- Combine her current savings and the additional amount needed:
[tex]\[
137 + t \geq 625
\][/tex]
- This inequality means that Shanelle's existing savings plus any additional money she earns or saves ([tex]$ t $[/tex]) should be equal to or more than [tex]$625.

So, the inequality that best represents this scenario is:
\[
t + 137 \geq 625
\]

This inequality confirms that Shanelle needs to save or earn enough extra money ($ t $) so that her total savings reach or exceed $[/tex]625.