Basic Inequality Word Problems

James weighs 220 pounds and gains 2 pounds per month. Joey weighs 176 pounds and gains 4 pounds per month. Which inequality below could be used to determine after how many months James will weigh less than Joey?

• 220 + 2x > 176 + 4x

• 220 + 2x < 176 + 4x

Max’s dog dish contains 34 ounces of water, and Max drinks 4 ounces per hour. Sophie’s dog dish contains 50 ounces of water and she drinks 6 ounces per hour. Which inequality below can be used to determine after how many hours Sophie's dish will have less water than Max's dish?

• 34 - 4x > 50 - 6x

• 34 - 4x < 50 - 6x

Claire’s stamp collection has 100 stamps and she buys 5 new stamps each month. Harriet’s collection has 400 stamps and she sells 15 stamps per month. Which inequality below could be used to determine after how many months Claire will have more stamps than Harriet?

• 100 - 5x > 400 + 15x

• 100 + 5x > 400 - 15x

• 100 + 5x < 400 - 15x

A pink roll of tickets has 1,000 tickets on it, and 50 are sold each hour. A blue roll has 595 tickets, and 5 are sold each hour. Which inequality below could be used to determine when the blue roll will have more tickets than the pink roll?

• 1000 - 50x < 595 + 5x

• 1000 - 50x > 595 - 5x

• 1000 - 50x < 595 - 5x

• 1000x - 50 < 595 + 5x

Lea needs at least $240 to buy new headphones. She has already saved $30. She earns $14 per car that she washes. Which inequality below can be used to determine how many cars she has to wash to have enough money?

• 14x+30 ≥ 240

• 14x+30 ≤ 240

• 30x+14 ≥ 240

• 30x+14 ≤ 240

Sam earns a weekly salary of $300. He also earns a commission of 4% on all of his sales. Which inequality below can be used to determine dollar amount of sales he must make to have a total weekly pay of at least $550?

• 0.04x+300 ≥ 550

• 0.04x+300≤ 550

• 4x+300 ≥ 550

• 4x+300 ≤ 550

Store A charges $10 plus $0.25 per letter for engraving. Store B charges $16 plus $0.15 per letter. Which inequality could be used to determine when Store B will cost less than Store A?

• 10 + 0.25x > 16 + 0.15x

• 10x + 0.25 > 16x + 0.15

• 10 + 0.25x < 16 + 0.15x

• 10x + 0.25 < 16x + 0.15

Store A charges $10 plus $0.25 per letter for engraving. Store B charges $16 plus $0.15 per letter. When will Store B cost less than Store A?

• x > 1.2

• x < 60

• x > 60

• x < 1.2

James weighs 220 pounds and gains 2 pounds per month. Joey weighs 176 pounds and gains 4 pounds per month. After how many months will James weigh less than Joey?

• x < 22

• x > 22

Max’s dog dish contains 34 ounces of water, and Max drinks 4 ounces per hour. Sophie’s dog dish contains 50 ounces of water and she drinks 6 ounces per hour. In how many hours will Sophie’s dish have less water than Max’s?

• x > 8

• x < 8