A large dehumidifier removes 1.6 pints of water from the air around it per hour. The dehumidifier can hold up to 40 pints of water. Which option number represents the inequality that shows how much time the dehumidifier can run before it becomes full?

Question

Option #1: −1.6h ≤ 40
Option #2: 1.6h ≤ 40
Option #3: 1.6h ≥ 40
Option #4: −1.6h ≥ 40

Answer 1

To determine the inequality that represents how much time the dehumidifier can run before it becomes full, we start by defining the variables:

• Let \( h \) be the time in hours that the dehumidifier runs.
• The dehumidifier removes water at a rate of 1.6 pints per hour.

Since the dehumidifier can hold up to 40 pints, we want to find the time \( h \) such that the total amount of water removed does not exceed the maximum capacity of 40 pints. We can express this with the inequality:

\[ 1.6h \leq 40 \]

This indicates that the total amount of water removed (1.6 times the number of hours, \( h \)) must be less than or equal to 40 pints.

Therefore, the correct option is:

Option #2: \( 1.6h \leq 40 \)