Valentina bought two containers of beads. In the first container 30% of the beads are red, and in the second

Question

Valentina bought two containers of beads. In the first container 30% of the beads are red, and in the second container 70% of the beads are red. Together, the containers have at least 400 red beads. Which inequality shows this relationship, where x is the total number of beads in the first container and y is the total number of beads in the second container?

Accepted Answer

Choice A is correct. It is given that x is the total number of beads in the first container and that 30% of those beads are red; therefore, the expression 0.3 x represents the number of red beads in the first container. It is given that y is the total number of beads in the second container and that 70% of those beads are red; therefore, the expression 0.7 y represents the number of red beads in the second container. It is also given that, together, the containers have at least 400 red beads, so the inequality that shows this relationship is 0.3 x + 0.7 y &ge; 400. Choice B is incorrect because it represents the containers having a total of at most, rather than at least, 400 red beads. Choice C is incorrect and may be the result of misunderstanding how to represent a percentage of beads in each container. Also, the inequality shows the containers having a combined total of at most, rather than at least, 400 red beads. Choice D is incorrect because the percentages were not converted to decimals.

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