Final answer:
The correct journal entry under a perpetual inventory system for a purchase of inventory on account is to debit Inventory and credit Accounts Payable for the amount of the purchase.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under a perpetual inventory system, when a company purchases inventory on account (meaning, to be paid for later), the company needs to record the purchase by increasing (debiting) its Inventory account to reflect the new assets it now owns. At the same time, it must acknowledge the liability it has incurred, which is done by increasing (crediting) the Accounts Payable account. Therefore, the correct journal entry to record the purchase of inventory on account is:
Debit Inventory $4800; Credit Accounts Payable $4800
This entry shows that inventory has increased and that there is now a payable created due to the purchase which will be paid in the future.