To analyze the provided options based on the given information, we need to understand how inequalities can represent different situations.
Let's break down each option:
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F: Emily divided \( x \) crayons into 12 boxes, and there were at most 7 crayons in each box.
- This situation can be represented by the inequality \( \frac{x}{12} \leq 7 \), which implies \( x \leq 84 \). This means that the number of crayons in each box can be 7 or fewer.
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G: Emily separated \( x \) books on 12 shelves, and there were more than 7 books on each shelf.
- This situation can be represented by the inequality \( \frac{x}{12} > 7 \), which implies \( x > 84 \). This means that the number of books on each shelf is more than 7.
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H: Emily poured \( x \) ounces of juice into 12 cups, and each cup had no less than 7 ounces of juice.
- This situation can be represented by the inequality \( \frac{x}{12} \geq 7 \), which implies \( x \geq 84 \). This means that each cup has at least 7 ounces.
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J: Emily shared \( x \) cookies among 12 people, and each person received less than 7 cookies.
- This situation can be represented by the inequality \( \frac{x}{12} < 7 \), which implies \( x < 84 \). This means that each person got fewer than 7 cookies.
Among these options, the one that matches the description of being an inequality is option F: Emily divided \( x \) crayons into 12 boxes, and there were at most 7 crayons in each box. This represents the inequality correctly as it caps the number of crayons per box.
So the best representation of the situation by the inequality is F.