Question

Bacteria cannot live at temperatures higher than (120^circ F). Using the inequality below, solve for (C) to determine the temperatures in degrees Celsius in which bacteria cannot survive:

[C > {5}/{9}(120 - 32)]

a) (C > 48.89)

b) (C > 50.00)

c) (C > 52.22)

d) (C > 55.56)

Answer 1

By solving the inequality C > {5}/{9}(120 - 32), we determine that bacteria cannot survive at temperatures higher than 48.89°C, which corresponds to option a).

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the temperatures in degrees Celsius in which bacteria cannot survive, we can solve for (C) in the inequality C > {5}/{9}(120 - 32). Performing the calculations, we subtract 32 from 120, getting 88, and then multiply by {5}/{9} to get the Celsius temperature.

{5}/{9} × 88 = 48.88°C

Since the inequality is strict (greater than and not equal to), we need to round up to one decimal place to ensure that we're specifying a temperature at which bacteria definitively cannot live. Therefore, the correct answer is C > 48.89, which corresponds to option a).