Which inequality can be used to find the dollar amount of "x" of the sales the associate must have to reach the goal?

Question

A sales associate in a clothing store earns $250 a week plus a commission equal to 3% of his sales. This week, the associate’s goal is to earn no less than $460. Which inequality can be used to find the dollar amount of x of the sales the associate must have to reach the goal?

 

A. 0.3x + 250 < 460

B. 0.03x + 250 < 460

C. 0.03x + 250 > 460

D. 0.03x + 250 > 460

Answer 1

Hi Bran,

 

Let's first express our inequality in words:

    salary + commission ≥ sales goal

 

We use "≥" sign to express the "at least" relationship.

 

Now let's replace the words in our inequality with the numbers given for each term:

    1.  salary = 250

    2.  commission = 0.03x where x = dollar amount of sales and 3% is equivalent decimal value of 0.03

    3.  sales goal = 460

 

After our replacements, we have our final answer:

    250 + 0.03x ≥ 460

 

First expressing the relationship in words is a helpful way to see what equivalent mathematical expressions will represent the same facts.

 

Thanks for submitting the problem and glad to help.

 

God bless, Jordan.