Question

Malcolm has $638.54 in his checking account. He must maintain a $500 balance to avoid a fee. He wrote a check for $159.50 today. Write an inequality that would be used to solve for the least amount of money he needs to deposit to avoid a fee.

Answer 1

We don't really need them, but here's the answer choices:

638.54 + 159.50 − x ≥ 500; x ≥ $298.04

638.54 + 159.50 − x ≥ 500; x ≥ $298.04

638.54 − 159.50 + x ≥ 500; x ≥ $20.96

638.54 − 159.50 + x ≤ 500; x ≤ $20.96

Answer 2

think about it this way:

(amount he already has) - (the amount he just took out as a check) + (deposit) must be greater than/equal to (minimum balance to avoid fee)

substitute the appropriate values/variable from the problem and solve for x