Question

1. audrey’s monthly car payment is $350, and she needs to save at least $35 each month for gas. if audrey is paid $17.50 an hour, write and solve an inequality to represent the number of hours she must work in a month to pay for her car payment and gas.

Explanation:

Step1: Define the variable

Let \( h \) be the number of hours Audrey works in a month.

Step2: Calculate total expenses

The total amount she needs to cover is the car payment plus the gas savings, so that's \( 350 + 35 = 385 \) dollars.

Step3: Set up the inequality

Her earnings from working are \( 17.50h \) dollars, and this must be at least enough to cover the total expenses. So the inequality is \( 17.50h \geq 385 \).

Step4: Solve the inequality

To solve for \( h \), divide both sides of the inequality by \( 17.50 \): \( h \geq \frac{385}{17.50} \). Calculating \( \frac{385}{17.50} = 22 \).

Answer:

The inequality is \( 17.50h \geq 385 \) and the solution is \( h \geq 22 \), meaning Audrey must work at least 22 hours in a month.