Question

Renna pushes the elevator button, but the elevator does not move. The mass limit for the elevator is 450450450 kilograms (\text{kg}kgstart text, k, g, end text), but Renna and her load of identical packages mass a total of 620\,\text{kg}620kg620, start text, k, g, end text. Each package has a mass of 37.4\,\text{kg}37.4kg37, point, 4, start text, k, g, end text.

Write an inequality to determine the number of packages, ppp, Renna could remove from the elevator to meet the mass requirement.
What is the minimum whole number of packages Renna needs to remove from the elevator to meet the mass requirement?

Answer 1

Part A. 37.4p ≥ 170

Part B. p ≥ 5 (rounding to the next whole)

Renna needs to remove at least 5 packages from the elevator to meet the mass requirement.

Explanation:

1. Let's review the information given to us to answer the question correctly:

Mass limit for the elevator = 450 kg

Renna and her load of packages mass = 620 kg

Each package mass = 37.4 kg

2. Write an inequality to determine the number of packages, p, Renna could remove from the elevator to meet the mass requirement.

Number of packages * Each package mass ≥ Renna and her load of packages mass - Mass limit for the elevator

Replacing with the values and variables we know:

p * 37.4 ≥ 620 - 450

37.4p ≥ 170

3. What is the minimum whole number of packages Renna needs to remove from the elevator to meet the mass requirement?

Solving for p in the equation above, we have:

37.4p ≥ 170

p ≥ 170/37.4

p ≥ 4.55

p ≥ 5 (rounding to the next whole)