Final answer:
The inequality that matches this situation is 12 - 3x ≥ 0.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Hiking Club is descending a cliff at a rate of 3 feet per minute. They begin at an elevation of 12 feet. We can represent this situation using an inequality. Let x represent the number of minutes they have been descending. The inequality is 12 - 3x ≥ 0. This inequality means that the elevation, represented by 12 - 3x, should be greater than or equal to 0, indicating that they haven't reached ground level yet.