Question

Oscar took $50 from his office’s petty cash fund to buy supplies. He spent $11 on notepads, $12 on labels, and $9 on envelopes. He wanted to spend the remaining money on three boxes of ballpoint pens, but he needed to allow $3 for sales tax. What’s the most that one box of pens could cost?

Answer 1

Answer: The boxes of pens must not cost more than $5 each.

Explanation:

$11 + $12 + $9 + 3p + $3 sales tax ≤ $50 Set up the inequality.

3p + $35 ≤ $50 Combine the constants ($11 + $12 +

$9 + $3 = $35).

3p + $35 – $35 ≤ $50 – $35 Subtract $10 from both sides of the inequality.

3p ≤ $15

3p⁄3 ≤ $15⁄3 Divide both sides of the inequality by 3.

p ≤ $5

Answer 2

The most that a box of pens could cost is $5.

Hope this helps!