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


(1 point)
Option #
represents how long the dehumidifier can run before it becomes full

Answer 1

To determine how much time the dehumidifier can run before it becomes full, we need to express the relationship between the amount of water removed by the dehumidifier and its maximum capacity.

The dehumidifier removes 1.6 pints of water per hour, and it can hold up to 40 pints. If we let \( h \) represent the number of hours the dehumidifier runs, the total amount of water removed after \( h \) hours would be \( 1.6h \).

We want to find out how many hours the dehumidifier can run before the amount of water removed equals its maximum capacity of 40 pints. Therefore, we need to set up the inequality:

\[ 1.6h \leq 40 \]

This inequality shows that the amount of water removed (1.6 times the number of hours) must be less than or equal to the maximum capacity (40 pints).

So, the correct option is:

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