Final answer:
Max's employer can buy a maximum of 4 tape measures with $18.00.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the maximum number of tape measures Max's employer can buy, divide the total amount available by the cost of each tape measure. In this case, $18.00 divided by $4.50 equals 4.
Therefore, Max's employer can buy a maximum of 4 tape measures with $18.00.