# Math Help - Help with inequalities? Thanks!

1. ## Help with inequalities? Thanks!

Three friends decide to buy some fish and chips.
One piece of fish costs $2.50 One scoop of chips costs$2.00
The friends only have $20 between them to spend. They want at least one fish each and at least two scoops of chips between them. Write down three inequalities involving the fish and chips purchase and list the possible purchases they could make. What I have done so far: I have added the costs of 3 fish ($7.50), 2 scoops of chips ($4.00) together and found they spent a total of$11.50 out of their $20.00 I am now finding more possible purchases they could make such as buying another 3 fish (1 for each of them) - that's$7.50 which now comes to a total of $19.00 out of their$20.00

What I need help with:
I need help with finding and writing inequalities. What even is an inequality? I definitely need help since I don't even know what an inequality looks like, let alone how to write one.

Thanks guys!

2. ## Re: Help with inequalities? Thanks!

Hey Crystuls.

An inequality is in the form of >=, <=, >, or < where they mean greater than or equal, less than or equal, greater than or less than.

Basically as an example lets say x is number of fish, y is number of scoops of chips, and they can only spend twenty dollars maximum then we have

x*2.50 + y*2.00 <= 20.00.

This is an example of an inequality for your situation (math problem).

3. ## Re: Help with inequalities? Thanks!

Thank you Chiro!
I think I am beginning to understand now.
So to clarify, < = 20.00 means that it is greater than the x * 2.50 + y * 2.00?

Thank you very much

4. ## Re: Help with inequalities? Thanks!

Here are the three inequalities I have found with x = number of fish and y = number of scoops of chips:
X ≥ 1
y ≥ 2
2.5x + 2y ≤ 20

Do these look correct to you? Thanks again!

5. ## Re: Help with inequalities? Thanks!

Yes that looks correct.