Question

apply: the local bookstore consists of 15 racks of summer reading material for teenagers. each of the racks hold 555 books. write and solve an inequality that will determine, s, the greatest number of summer reading material on each rack.
what information is given?
what is the variable?
what operation is needed to write the inequality?
write the inequality and solve!
what does the solution mean?

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Explanation:

Step1: List given information

15 racks, total max books = 555, variable $s$ = books per rack

Step2: Identify variable

The variable is $s$, the number of books on each rack.

Step3: Identify required operation

Multiplication (total books = racks × books per rack)

Step4: Write the inequality

Total books from racks ≤ 555, so $15s \leq 555$

Step5: Solve the inequality

Divide both sides by 15: $\frac{15s}{15} \leq \frac{555}{15}$

Step6: Simplify to find $s$

$s \leq 37$

Step7: Interpret the solution

The maximum books per rack is 37.

Answer:

• What information is given? 15 racks of reading material, total maximum books across all racks is 555.
• What is the variable? $s$, the number of summer reading materials on each rack.
• What operation is needed to write the inequality? Multiplication.
• Write the inequality and solve! Inequality: $15s \leq 555$; Solution: $s \leq 37$
• What does the solution mean? There are at most 37 summer reading materials on each rack.