Question

On a particular airline, checked bags can weigh no more than 50 pounds.

Jennifer packed 32 pounds of clothes and five identical gifts (x) in a suitcase that weighs 8 pounds when empty.
Write an inequality to represent the total weight of the suitcase so it does not exceed the maximum weight.​

Answer 1

40 + 5x ≤ 50

Explanation:

Inequalities

The maximum weight allowed for checked bags on a particular airline is 50 pounds.

Jennifer has already used up to 32 pounds of clothes and the empty suitcase weighs 8 pounds. This makes a weight of 40 pounds already used.

If five identical gifts of x pounds each are to be included in the suitcase, the total weight is 40 + 5x. And that weight cannot exceed 50 pounds, thus:

40 + 5x ≤ 50

That is the inequality to represent the situation.