High School

Solve the problem.

The maximum weight for an elevator is 1600 pounds. You need to move boxes each weighing 40 pounds, and you weigh 145 pounds. Write an inequality that can be used to determine the maximum number of boxes that you can place in the elevator at one time. Assume only you and the boxes are in the elevator.

a. [tex]1600 - 145 \leq 40n[/tex]
b. [tex]145 + 40n \geq 1600[/tex]
c. [tex]145 + 40n \leq 1600[/tex]
d. [tex]1600 + 145 \geq 40n[/tex]

Please select the best answer from the choices provided:

A
B
C
D

Answer :

To solve this problem, we need to write an inequality that represents the situation with the maximum allowable weight for an elevator.

1. Understand the given weights:
- The maximum weight capacity of the elevator is 1600 pounds.
- Your weight is 145 pounds.
- Each box weighs 40 pounds.

2. Set up the inequality:
- The total weight in the elevator includes both your weight and the weight of the boxes.
- If you let [tex]\( n \)[/tex] represent the number of boxes, then the combined weight of the boxes is [tex]\( 40n \)[/tex] pounds.

3. Write the inequality:
- Your weight plus the total weight of the boxes should not exceed the elevator’s maximum capacity. So, the inequality will be:
[tex]\[
145 + 40n \leq 1600
\][/tex]

4. Select the correct answer:
- Compare this inequality to the provided options:
- [tex]\( a. \)[/tex] [tex]\( 1600-145 \leq 40n \)[/tex]
- [tex]\( b. \)[/tex] [tex]\( 145+40n \geq 1600 \)[/tex]
- [tex]\( c. \)[/tex] [tex]\( 145+40n \leq 1600 \)[/tex]
- [tex]\( d. \)[/tex] [tex]\( 1600+145 \geq 40n \)[/tex]

- The correct choice that matches our inequality is option [tex]\( c \)[/tex]: [tex]\( 145+40n \leq 1600 \)[/tex].

Therefore, the inequality that can be used to determine the maximum number of boxes is [tex]\( 145 + 40n \leq 1600 \)[/tex], which corresponds to choice [tex]\( C \)[/tex].