Answer:
Second Choice: 8.73b + 171.48 > 381
Explanation:
This is a tricky question because the first two choices both represent an inequality that satisfy the conditions
First, let's eliminate obvious wrong choices.
If b represents the number of bags of dog food and one bag costs $8.73, there should be term 8.73b somewhere in the inequality since 8.73b represents the total $ cost of b bags of dog food.
This means we can eliminate the last two choices
Let's deal with the knowns and compute the dollar amounts of each of the products being donated
30 cans of cat food at $0.57 per can = 0.57 x 30 = $17.10
34 cans of dog food at $0.84 per can = 0.84 x 34 = $28.56
18 bags of cat food at $$6.99 per bag = 6.99 x 18 = $125.82
The sum of these is $171.48
She is also donating b bags of dog food at $8.73 per bag = 8.73 x b = $8.73b
So the total cost of the donation =
8,73b + 171.48 which has to exceed 381
So the inequality is
8.73b + 171.48 > 381
Which is the choice you have selected and I believe it is correct
Now, the tricky part comes because if you subtract 171.84 from both sides of the inequality we get
8.73b > 318 - 171.48
Both inequalities are equivalent but we would not write an inequality of the type where the RHS is a mathematical expression. We would instead simplify the right hand side and write it as
8.73b > 209.52 (381-171.48 = 209.52)
I believe the way the question is worded is the LHS should be the $sum of all the donations and the RHS the minimum value.
So the best choice is choice 2: 8.73b + 171.48 > 381
i hope that helps.